Zelenskyy and Pope Leo XIV Propose Vatican as Venue for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Pope Leo XIV at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday, expressing gratitude for the Vatican’s efforts to reunite children forcibly taken by Russia since its 2022 invasion. Both leaders proposed the Vatican as a neutral venue for peace talks to resolve the ongoing conflict, now in its fourth year.

The meeting, held on the sidelines of Zelenskyy’s visit to Rome for the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference, focused on the war’s humanitarian toll and the need for a “just and lasting peace,” according to a Vatican statement. Pope Leo XIV reiterated his sorrow for the victims and his willingness to host Russian and Ukrainian representatives for negotiations, a proposal echoed by Zelenskyy, who emphasized the Vatican’s moral authority in facilitating dialogue.

Zelenskyy specifically thanked the Pope for supporting efforts to return an estimated 20,000 Ukrainian children forcibly deported to Russia, a practice condemned internationally as a war crime. Speaking to reporters, he urged continued Vatican assistance, saying, “We need prayers to get back our children stolen by Russia during this war.” The Vatican’s previous envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, appointed by Pope Francis, made initial progress on prisoner exchanges and child repatriation, but recent efforts have slowed.

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Pope Leo, the first American pontiff, has been vocal in his support for Ukraine, denouncing the “senseless war” and recently praising the Ukrainian Greek Catholic community’s resilience during meetings with their bishops. Moved by their rendition of the “Our Father,” he requested an encore, reflecting his emotional connection to their plight. He told the bishops, “It is not easy to find words of consolation for families who have lost loved ones,” acknowledging the deep wounds of the conflict.

While the United States, through officials like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, has endorsed the Vatican as a potential mediation site, Russia has rejected the idea, citing tensions with the Catholic Church and dismissing the Vatican as “not a serious force,” according to posts on X. This follows Moscow’s refusal to engage in direct talks in Istanbul in May 2025, further complicating peace efforts.

Zelenskyy’s visit underscores the Vatican’s growing role as a diplomatic hub for Ukraine, with Pope Leo’s consistent calls for peace and humanitarian action offering hope amid stalled negotiations.

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