Pope to Host Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks? Vatican Signals Move as Zelensky Visits Amid Russia’s Fiercest Assault

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome on Wednesday, July 9th, as Russia launched its largest aerial assault in months. During the talks, the Pope offered the Vatican as a neutral venue for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

The Vatican, in a formal statement, described a “cordial conversation” where both sides stressed dialogue as the essential path to end hostilities. Pope Leo XIV reportedly expressed deep sorrow for the war’s victims and reaffirmed his prayers for the Ukrainian people. He urged efforts to free prisoners and find mutually acceptable solutions, explicitly reiterating his willingness to host Russian and Ukrainian representatives for peace talks at the Vatican.

However, Russia swiftly rejected the offer. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated it would be “inappropriate” for the two predominantly Orthodox Christian nations to hold negotiations at the Vatican.

President Zelensky, visiting Rome for the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference, thanked the Pope for his ongoing efforts, specifically mentioning attempts to help reunite Ukrainian children taken to Russia since the 2022 invasion. Pope Leo XIV has consistently condemned Russia’s aggression, recently labeling it a “senseless war” to visiting bishops.

The meeting occurred against the backdrop of a severe Russian military escalation. Earlier Wednesday, Zelensky reported that Russian forces attempted to strike 741 Ukrainian targets using 728 drones and 13 missiles. He condemned the timing, stating the attack came precisely as international efforts to secure peace and a ceasefire intensified, demonstrating Russia’s continued rejection of such initiatives. Zelensky emphasized that this aggression underscores the critical need for tougher sanctions, particularly targeting Russian oil revenues funding the war.