Can the Vatican become a place for peace talks: the answer of the Holy See’s ambassador
25 December 13:11
The Vatican is unlikely to become a platform for peace talks on the war in Ukraine because of the Holy See’s principled position on international law.
This was stated in an interview with RBC-Ukraine by the Apostolic Nuncio (Vatican Ambassador) to Ukraine, Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Commenting on the possibility of holding talks in the Vatican, he noted that no state has the right to start a war under the guise of far-fetched arguments.
“I would hope so. But the Holy See constantly emphasizes the importance of international law. No one has the right to start a war because they have come up with some arguments. This is such a clear position. Is it realistic to be a platform for negotiations with such a position? I don’t think it’s realistic,” he said.
When asked if this was due to the unwillingness of the Russian side, Kulbokas replied.
“Yes. Because of the very fact that the Holy See has such a position, the other side probably does not want to choose the Holy See as a platform. This is my vision,” the Vatican representative said.
What preceded it
The idea of a trilateral meeting with the participation of US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was discussed in the summer of 2025.
At that time, according to media reports, European allies began looking for possible venues for such talks.
The Vatican was previously mentioned as a potential location. The President of Ukraine stated that Kyiv was ready to consider this proposal. At the same time, a number of European countries have advocated another option.
In particular, France, Finland, Spain, and Germany proposed holding a meeting in Geneva, considering it a more neutral venue for possible negotiations.
