Russian FM rejects Vatican as “unrealistic” venue for peace talks with Ukraine

This was reported by Russian propaganda outlets TASS and RIA Novosti.

Answering a question at a conference in Moscow about the timing and location of a second round of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Lavrov stated that there are currently “no ideas” on the matter.

“No, no dates have been set yet. A lot of people are speculating about when and where the meeting will take place. We have no ideas at the moment,” he said.

At the same time, he dismissed the possibility of holding a meeting in the Vatican, calling the option “unrealistic.”

“It would be uncomfortable and somewhat ‘inelegant’ for the Vatican to host a meeting between two Orthodox countries like Russia and Ukraine. This scenario is unrealistic,” Lavrov concluded.

• Earlier, Pope Leo XIV, in a conversation with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, stated that he is ready to host the next round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in the Vatican.