Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has described a possible meeting with representatives of Ukraine in the Vatican as unrealistic.
“Imagine the Vatican as a venue for the talks, it is a little bit inelegant,” Lavrov said, adding that we are talking about a meeting of representatives of two “Orthodox countries” “on a Catholic platform” and it would be “not too comfortable” for the Vatican itself.
He also said on 23 May that the dates and place of the meeting had not yet been determined, but noted that work on the memorandum with Kiev was “at an advanced stage” on Moscow’s part.
In a post on Truth Social following his 19 May phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump said talks between Russia and Ukraine “on a ceasefire and, more importantly, an end to the war” would begin “immediately.” He mentioned the Vatican as a possible venue for the talks and summarised: “let the process begin!”
Putin told reporters after his 19 May phone call with Trump that Russia and Ukraine “must find compromises that suit both sides.” He said that “Russia is ready to work with Kiev on a memorandum on a future peace treaty”.
There have been no reports of a new meeting between Kiev and Moscow, but Finnish President Alexander Stubb said on 21 May that the sides are likely to hold “technical-level talks” next week, possibly at the Vatican.
At the same time, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denied on 22 May that the Vatican might host Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in June. “There is no specific agreement on the next meetings,” Peskov told reporters in Moscow on 22 May. – They have yet to be agreed upon.”