Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that an offer by Pope Leo to host a Russia-Ukraine peace summit at Vatican City was positively received during a call between US President Donald Trump and several European leaders.
The US President said he thought it “would be great to have it at the Vatican and maybe it would have some extra significance".
He went on: "I saw that it was discussed yesterday. So I thought that people told me that they'd be honoured to do it. I would imagine they would be. So no, I think it would be maybe helpful. There's tremendous bitterness, anger and I think maybe that could help some of that anger. So having it at the Vatican would be a great idea.”
Trump expressed confidence that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are inclined towards resolution and noted that Putin has “had enough”.
The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
It comes as Colombia’s President, Gustavo Petro, has also requested that the Vatican host the latest peace talks between his government and the National Liberation Army (ELN).
Additionally, Petro sought the Pope’s assistance in “building a bridge” with the United States to address migration issues, citing poverty, wars and climate change as key causes.
President Petro met Pope Leo in Vatican City on Monday for a private audience.