Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement that Pope Leo XIV had confirmed in a phone call with her his desire to host the next round of talks to end the war between Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
Meloni expressed deep gratitude to the Holy Father for his unwavering commitment to peace.
Following a phone call between US and Russian Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Monday, Meloni's office said it welcomed Trump's statement that the pope had expressed a desire to host talks between Kiev and Moscow. However, the information about such a proposal was not confirmed at the time by the Vatican.
Pope Leo XIV, elected two weeks ago, is the first American to head the world Catholic Church. In his speech on May 14, he said that the Vatican could act as a mediator in global conflicts, without specifically mentioning Ukraine and Russia.
In a separate statement yesterday, Meloni said that she had spoken with other European leaders and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the upcoming steps.
"It was agreed to maintain close coordination between the partners in anticipation of a new round of negotiations aimed at a ceasefire and the conclusion of a peace agreement in Ukraine," the statement said.