ROME — Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has expressed readiness to support a potential Vatican-led peace initiative between Russia and Ukraine but only if the Holy See gives its blessing.
In a carefully worded statement, Meloni’s office said Italy “views positively” the Pope’s openness to host negotiations and is willing to “facilitate contacts and work towards peace” should talks move forward.
The idea, first floated by Donald Trump, envisions the Vatican as neutral ground for ceasefire discussions. But for now, it remains just that an idea. Neither Kyiv nor Moscow has committed to the proposal, and the Vatican itself appears cautious.
“There’s no plan on the table,” said a senior Holy See official familiar with the matter. “The Pope is always open to dialogue, but that doesn’t mean he’s agreed to mediate.”
A Delicate Dance
The Holy See has long played a behind-the-scenes role in conflict resolution. But the war in Ukraine has exposed the limits of papal diplomacy. Pope Francis, whose early remarks appeared to suggest NATO provoked Russia, has drawn criticism in Kyiv. Some of his comments including a reference to Ukraine possibly needing to “raise the white flag” have deeply upset Ukrainian leaders.
In contrast, Pope Leo, elected last year following Francis’s death, has struck a firmer tone. He has called Russia’s invasion an “imperialist war” and condemned “crimes against humanity” committed by Russian forces.
That more direct stance could make Leo a more acceptable figure to Ukrainians wary of soft-handed diplomacy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared open to the idea in a message posted on X this week. He said he had spoken to Meloni about “possible platforms for talks with the Russians” and praised the Italian leader for her “cool ideas.” He also named Turkey and Switzerland as potential hosts.
Russia, meanwhile, has its own preferences.
The Kremlin has long pushed for talks to continue under the so-called “Istanbul Plus” format, referencing negotiations that took place in Turkey early in the war. Those talks were abandoned after Russia demanded sweeping concessions, including Ukraine scaling down its military and formally recognising Russia’s control over four occupied regions and Crimea.
Those terms are non-starters for Kyiv.
“The Kremlin is less concerned about location and more interested in controlling the terms,” said Tatiana Stanovaya, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Centre. “Putin would happily talk to the Pope he believes his position is just. But he doesn’t expect the Vatican to change his mind.”
Meloni’s Quiet Support
For Meloni, supporting a Vatican-hosted dialogue offers diplomatic cover without forcing Rome into the spotlight. The Italian leader has positioned herself as a pragmatic ally of Ukraine while staying aligned with broader European and American interests.
By backing a potential role for the Vatican, she aligns herself with a peace-focused narrative while leaving the difficult decisions to others.
Still, the idea of a papal summit may have symbolic value particularly in a moment where diplomatic options seem thin.
The Catholic Church has already played a limited role in talks over prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, although it remains unclear how central it was to those outcomes.
At the very least, the Vatican brings moral weight and a history of discreet diplomacy.
“In this war, symbolism matters,” said one European diplomat in Rome. “If the Pope can get Zelensky and Putin in the same room, even just for a photo, that’s something. It shows a path however narrow still exists.”
Trump’s Role and the Shifting West
Trump, who once called NATO “obsolete,” has taken a more transactional approach. His recent suggestions of Vatican involvement came as he walked back earlier threats to punish Putin. Instead, he’s floated ideas of new trade deals with Russia.
That shift has not gone unnoticed in Kyiv or Brussels.
For now, no meetings are scheduled. No frameworks agreed. And no one is packing for Rome.
But in a war entering its third year, even the whisper of diplomacy gets attention.
Whether it leads to anything more that will depend on decisions yet to be made, not in Washington or Moscow, but perhaps behind closed doors in St Peter’s Basilica.
