Vatican is ready to provide a platform for direct peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. He writes about this The Guardian with reference to a statement from the press service of the Holy See.

Earlier today, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Pope Leo XIV met at the Vatican. The Vatican said in a statement following the meeting that they"discussed the ongoing conflict and the urgent need for a just and lasting peace."

"During the cordial conversation, the importance of dialogue as a desirable means of ending hostilities was reaffirmed. The Holy Father expressed his condolences for the victims and renewed his prayers and closeness to the Ukrainian people, encouraging all efforts aimed at the release of prisoners and the search for common solutions. The Holy Father confirmed his readiness to welcome representatives of Russia and Ukraine to the Vatican for negotiations," the statement said.

Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia

As UNIAN reported, in May, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Vatican could become the venue for Ukraine and Russia to hold their talks on ending the war. A little later, the Italian Prime Minister Georgia Maloney reported that the Pope, in a conversation with her, apparently confirmed his willingness to provide such a platform.

However, Russian officials in private comments to Western media rejected the idea of holding talks in the Vatican. At the same time, rather absurd explanations were voiced for such reluctance. In particular, the Russians referred to the fact that the Vatican is Catholic. In addition, although the Vatican itself is not a member of NATO, it is completely surrounded by the territory of Italy, which is a member of the alliance. At the same time, the Russians are completely satisfied with Turkey as a negotiating platform - a Muslim country, which is itself a member of NATO.