JAKARTA - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said in a statement on Tuesday Pope Leo XIV had confirmed by phone call with her that he was willing to host the Vatican the next round of negotiations to try to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
"Receiving confirmation from the Holy Father regarding the readiness to host the next negotiations between parties at the Vatican, the Prime Minister expresses his deep gratitude (to) Pope Leo XIV for his relentless commitment to peace," PM Meloni said.
Following a phone call on Monday between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, PM Meloni's office said he welcomed President Trump's statement that Pope Leo XIV had expressed interest in hosting negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, but the Vatican did not immediately confirm the offer.
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected two weeks ago, was the leader of the first world Catholic Church from the US. In a speech on May 14, he said the Vatican could act as a mediator in a global conflict, without specifically mentioning Ukraine and Russia.
"The Holy Throne is always ready to help bring the enemy together, meet face to face, to talk to each other, so that people everywhere can once again find hope and restore the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace," Pope Leo XIV.
SEE ALSO:
In a second separate statement, Italian Prime Minister said he had also held talks with other European leaders and with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the next steps.
"It was agreed to maintain close coordination between partners and the goal of a new round of negotiations aimed at a ceasefire and a peace agreement in Ukraine," the statement said.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
