Italy

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday that she received confirmation from the Vatican regarding its readiness to facilitate peace discussions between Russia and Ukraine.

This development followed a consultation with Leo on Monday, where Meloni relayed a conversation between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, as per her office’s statement.

Following Trump’s call with European leaders, including Meloni, she was asked to reaffirm preparations for the Pope’s upcoming address, her office indicated.

During her discussion with the Pope on Tuesday, she noted his “willingness to engage in future talks involving Vatican representatives.”

Meloni expressed gratitude to the Pope for his “steadfast dedication to fostering peace.”

Furthermore, she mentioned her recent conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other world leaders to ensure “close collaboration” concerning peace negotiations.

Despite various attempts to address the conflict stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, there has been no significant progress, particularly with Putin dismissing Kiev’s ceasefire proposal.

Last week, Leo met with representatives from the Eastern Christian Church to discuss the possibility of mediating between the political factions vying for Vatican involvement.