Overview

• Pope León XIV reiterated the Vatican’s readiness to accommodate high-level negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives during his second meeting with President Zelenski at Castel Gandolfo.
• Zelenski affirmed that Moscow remains the sole party refusing the Vatican’s proposal and thanked the pope for his moral and diplomatic support.
• The Ukrainian president urged papal assistance in repatriating children and prisoners taken by Russia, highlighting pressing humanitarian concerns.
• The pope’s renewed offer coincided with Russia’s largest single-day aerial assault on Ukraine since 2022, underscoring the urgency of seeking dialogue.
• Zelenski is in Rome to co-preside over the IV International Conference on the Reconstruction of Ukraine and to rally international backing for rebuilding efforts.