Vatican Steps In: Pope Proposes Peace Talks Between Zelenskyy and Putin

Vatican Offers to Host Talks Between Zelenskyy and Putin May 17, 2025 – In a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Pope Francis XIV has proposed that Vatican City serve as a neutral venue for direct negotiations between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. This offer comes after a recent meeting in Istanbul failed to achieve a breakthrough. The proposal was discussed on Ukraine's 24 Channel in an interview featuring Igor Gavrishchak and Piotr Kulpa, a former secretary of the Polish delegation to the NATO Parliament. Kulpa noted that the Pope's initiative may be influenced by growing international pressure on Putin due to the ongoing war. He stated, "Many countries, even neutral ones like China and Brazil, are increasingly weary of Putin and his war of aggression." The 24 Channel segment highlights the potential implications of the Vatican proposal for global politics. The success of such negotiations remains uncertain, but the offer provides a new avenue for diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.