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Russia has declined the Vatican's offer to facilitate peace talks aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Despite international backing for the proposal, including endorsements from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and U.S. President Donald Trump, Russia remains uninterested in using the Vatican as a venue.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State, extended an invitation for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia following unsuccessful talks held on May 16 in Istanbul. The only outcome of those discussions was a mutual prisoner exchange.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported the idea, stating that "it’s a place that both sides would be comfortable going," after meeting with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, who has been acting as a papal envoy since 2023.
Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelenskyy expressed his openness to negotiate directly with Russia at any location promising tangible results. He mentioned Türkiye, the Vatican, and Switzerland as potential venues during discussions with Trump.
However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed these plans. Speaking at a conference in Moscow on May 23, Lavrov called efforts to arrange talks at the Vatican "unrealistic" and described such an arrangement as "a bit vulgar."
Lavrov also cited religious differences as an issue since both Ukraine and Russia are predominantly Orthodox countries while the Vatican is a Catholic institution. This point was echoed by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov who confirmed there were "no agreements" for talks at the Vatican.
The complex religious landscape in Ukraine includes Orthodox Christians along with Ukrainian Greek Catholics, Roman Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and Protestants. In Russia, about 71% identify as Orthodox Christians while other faiths represent smaller percentages of the population.
Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill has consistently backed Russia's military actions in Ukraine since they began in 2014. His support continued even after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022.
Political consultant Sergei Markov indicated security concerns are another factor preventing Russian President Vladimir Putin from traveling to Italy due to its NATO membership and legal obligations under the International Criminal Court (ICC). Italy would be required to arrest Putin if he entered its territory because of ICC warrants against him for war crimes committed by Russian officials in Ukraine.
Despite these challenges, Bloomberg reported ongoing discussions about involving the Vatican more actively in facilitating dialogue between Ukraine and Russia.
Gina Christian reports for OSV News and can be followed on X @GinaJesseReina.
