On May 24, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected the Vatican as a suitable venue for peace negotiations with Ukraine, claiming it would be inappropriate for “two Orthodox countries” to negotiate under the auspices of a Catholic institution. Speaking in Moscow, Lavrov argued it would be “uncomfortable for the Vatican itself” and framed the location as symbolically incompatible.

This dismissal comes despite Pope Leo XIV’s recent offer to host talks and his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican, during which both discussed humanitarian issues and a possible ceasefire framework.

The latest direct Ukraine-Russia peace talks in Istanbul on May 16 resulted in only a prisoner swap agreement, with no progress on a ceasefire. Russia demanded that Ukraine withdraw from four partially occupied regions it claims to have annexed. Ukrainian officials noted that the Russian delegation lacked real authority and preparedness for serious negotiation.

Ukraine had proposed an immediate ceasefire and a Zelensky-Putin summit—both rejected by Moscow.