Vatican could become a venue for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia – Rubio
The world is once again witnessing increased tensions and persistent attempts to find a path to peace in Ukraine. According to US Secretary of State Mark Rubio, the Vatican has a chance to serve as a neutral platform for diplomatic negotiations between the countries currently in a state of conflict. He specifically emphasized that, ahead of possible talks at the Vatican, the Holy See is prepared to host a direct meeting between Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin, as well as any alternative formats of discussions, including technical consultations. Rubio highlighted that the Vatican’s proposals are generous and open to acceptance. According to him, this institution could become a neutral and comfortable space for discussing peace issues, and therefore, the countries should seize this opportunity. “It’s a place where all parties can feel more at ease,” said the US Secretary of State in an interview with CBS News. “I hope that soon we will move towards regular negotiations, and the Vatican can play an important role in diplomatic efforts.” The journalist conducting the interview noted that Russia has repeatedly refused to participate in negotiations initiated by Kyiv and international mediators. Specifically, there were talks in Istanbul, which, despite attempts to conduct them, faced Moscow’s reluctance to fulfill its commitments. Nevertheless, Rubio remains optimistic and sees signs of Russia’s openness to negotiations under certain appropriate conditions. The background to this proposal was the initiative of Pope Leo XIV, who at the end of last year suggested using the Vatican as a neutral platform for negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. This was a logical step amid failures on other international platforms, particularly in Istanbul, where Ukrainian-Russian talks held on May 16 proved to be complex and varied. At that time, the Ukrainian delegation stated that Russian representatives behaved similarly to gangsters, and their head, Vladimir Medinsky, directly threatened the Ukrainian side. It should be noted that the talks in Istanbul were the first in many years to be conducted in a direct format. Their results surprised experts and diplomats: the Russian delegation voiced a range of tough demands — in particular, Ukraine’s renunciation of any claims regarding territories and compensation payments, which fundamentally contradicts Ukraine’s position. Meanwhile, the Kremlin expressed willingness to cease hostilities only under certain conditions, further reducing the chances of reaching a quick compromise. In this context, the diplomatic move towards utilizing the Vatican opens new prospects for peace efforts. Last week, reports emerged that both Ukraine and Russia are inclined towards negotiations at diplomatically neutral geographic and symbolic locations. The Holy See, given its reputation as a mediator and spiritual arbiter, could serve as a platform to reduce tensions and restore dialogue. Thus, against the backdrop of years of failures and increasing extreme tensions, the potential format of negotiations in the Vatican appears as the only possible venue for launching a genuine diplomatic process. At the same time, it is clear that this requires not only the willingness of the parties but also significant political will, an understanding of the importance of compromise, and a genuine desire for peace. Overall, the situation remains tense, but the possibility of peaceful negotiations in a neutral center, such as the Vatican, is becoming increasingly relevant. Whether Ukrainian and Russian leaders will finally find common ground and lay the foundation for long-awaited peace remains an open question, but it is becoming more urgent every day.