Recent statements indicate that Russia has not received any official invitation or proposal to hold Russia-Ukraine negotiations within the Vatican. This was communicated by the Russian Ambassador to the Vatican, Ivan Soltanovsky, through RIA Novosti. He reiterated that while media reports have circulated about such talks, there has been no formal proposal placed on Moscow’s table to initiate any Vatican-hosted discussions between the two countries.
Soltanovsky underscored that the Russian side remains aware of the various media rumors surrounding this topic. He made it clear that, up to this moment, there has been no official outreach inviting Russia to participate in negotiations at the Vatican, and he expressed no doubt about Pope Francis’s evident desire to see peace in Ukraine realized through dialogue and a political settlement.
The diplomat noted that Moscow maintains regular, ongoing channels of contact with the Holy See and that those contacts have continued even after the start of Russia’s military operation in Ukraine. This continuity highlights the Vatican’s longstanding role in international diplomacy and dialogue, rather than a shift away from constructive engagement in the region.
According to Soltanovsky, the Papal See is aware of Russia’s position on Ukraine and the possible paths to resolving the conflict. The exchange reflects the Vatican’s view of the conflict as one requiring careful diplomacy and sustained effort to prevent further humanitarian suffering and to create conditions for a durable settlement.
On January 15, Leonid Sevastyanov, president of the World Union of Old Believers, told RIA Novosti that the Pope is examining the possibility of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine within the Vatican. This statement adds another dimension to ongoing discussions about suitable venues and formats for talks, underscoring the Vatican’s potential role as a neutral forum for dialogue in the current crisis.
Previously, Pope Francis remarked that the world risked being drawn into war due to the military industry. Those comments reflect the Pope’s concern about how arms production and sales can fuel and prolong conflict, and they frame a broader call for dialogue, restraint, and a focus on peaceful avenues to resolve tensions rather than escalating hostilities. The pope’s stance has been cited in various contexts as part of a broader appeal for humanitarian considerations and political will to end the violence in Ukraine.