Media: Italian PM plots path to Ukraine-Russia talks as Vatican offers neutral ground

The Holy See has offered its platform to facilitate discussions on Ukraine, but it has refrained from directly organizing or participating in the preparatory stages.

The Italian La Repubblica newspaper says that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is leading the coordination efforts for the upcoming peace talks, engaging in numerous telephone discussions with both European leaders and officials from the United States, Caliber.Az reports.

The Italian government, under Meloni's leadership, aims to finalize the dates for the first round of talks by the end of this week. The initial phase will adopt a technical format, setting the stage for further negotiations that could eventually lead to a foreign ministers' meeting and, ultimately, a summit between Russia and Ukraine.

Meloni is anticipated to hold high-level consultations in the coming days with key international stakeholders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, senior European Union officials, and representatives from Türkiye.

A follow-up phone call with US President Donald Trump is also planned, after which the Vatican will be briefed on the progress.

La Repubblica notes that while Trump appears open to the idea of hosting the talks in the Vatican, Macron prefers Switzerland as the venue for the meeting. The office of German politician Friedrich Merz has stated that it is "premature" to discuss specific dates and formats for the talks.

The most significant unknown remains Moscow. According to the report, no concrete proposals have been received from Russian officials yet, and their stance on the proposed discussions will be a critical factor in determining the future of the peace initiative.

As the international community continues to explore diplomatic avenues to address the conflict in Ukraine, the Vatican’s role as a neutral platform for these talks remains pivotal, with various European and international stakeholders actively shaping the framework for future discussions.

By Vafa Guliyeva