European and US leaders support Pope Leo XIV's proposal for the Vatican to host Russian-Ukrainian talks, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said, Reuters reported, BTA reported.
She made this statement after the US president informed a number of European leaders of his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin about Ukraine.
„Talks between the parties that could lead to a ceasefire as soon as possible and create conditions for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine“, Meloni said.
"In this regard, the Holy Father's willingness to host the talks in the Vatican was positively assessed. Italy is ready to contribute to facilitating contacts and working for peace," Meloni said in a statement.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that European leaders, including the Ukrainian president, had been briefed by Trump about his conversation with Putin.
"I want to thank President Trump for his tireless efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine. It is important that the United States remains committed." We will continue to support Volodymyr Zelensky to achieve lasting peace in Ukraine," von der Leyen said in "Express."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kiev and its partners were considering organizing a meeting of the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, the United States, European Union countries and Britain as part of efforts to end Moscow's war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in Kiev after holding two phone calls with the U.S. president today, the Ukrainian leader said he hoped the meeting would take place as soon as possible and that it was not ruled out that Turkey, the Vatican or Switzerland could host the meeting.
European leaders agreed to increase pressure on Russia through sanctions after the U.S. president informed them of his conversation with the Russian president, a German government spokesman said.
"The U.S. president and European partners are agreed on the next steps. They agreed to closely coordinate the negotiation process and to make efforts to hold an additional technical meeting," the spokesman said.
"All parties confirmed their readiness to closely accompany Ukraine on the path to a ceasefire. The European participants announced that they would increase pressure on the Russian side through sanctions," he said.