Rubio says Vatican could be venue for Ukraine-Russia talks, but not peace broker
Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (Getty Images)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested that the Vatican could be a venue for direct Ukraine-Russia talks. However, he emphasized that he would not consider the Vatican a peace broker in such talks, Associated Press informs.
Speaking to reporters in Rome ahead of a meeting with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican's representative on Ukraine, Rubio said he planned to discuss possible ways the Vatican could assist. He mentioned "the status of the talks, the updates after yesterday (Friday, referring to the meeting in Istanbul) and the path forward."
When asked whether the Vatican could serve as a peace broker in peace negotiations, the US Secretary of State responded:
"I wouldn't call it broker, but it’s certainly — I think it's a place that both sides would be comfortable going. So we'll talk about all of that, and obviously, we are always grateful to the Vatican for their willingness to play this constructive and positive role," said Rubio, who also met on Saturday with the Vatican's Secretary of State and Foreign Minister.
The Vatican as a peace broker
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently said that Pope Leo XIV has expressed willingness to play a role in peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
"I am grateful to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV for his wise words about the Holy See's willingness to take on the role of mediator in restoring peace around the world. Peace is the dearest wish of millions of our people," Zelenskyy responded.
Yesterday, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Holy See's chief diplomat, added that Pope Leo plans to offer the Vatican as a venue for peace negotiations between the two countries at war.
As previously reported, Zelenskyy is scheduled to attend the inaugural Mass for the newly elected Pope at the Vatican tomorrow. Several other world leaders are expected to join him.
