All roads lead to Rome. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is quietly working on a complex diplomatic initiative to restart peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
- The initiative involves the Vatican as host, Pope Leo XIV as a moral broker, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as a strategic intermediary.
- It has backing from the United States, with President Donald Trump reportedly raising the idea of Vatican-hosted Russia-Ukraine talks during the Monday call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
- The European Union is also watching closely.
- On Sunday, Meloni hosted a meeting in her office between US Vice President JD Vance and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen—a clear signal that Rome is positioning itself as a bridge between transatlantic powers (and the Holy See).
Decoding the news. This multi-dimensional diplomacy marks a rare convergence of religious authority, transatlantic coordination, and realism on global affairs.
- With traditional diplomatic channels exhausted, Meloni’s vision could open an unexpected path to de-escalation—but only if Moscow signals a credible willingness to engage.
Looming a just and lasting peace. On a Monday call, Meloni reportedly discussed the Vatican-hosted negotiations with Pope Leo XIV, who has expressed readiness to facilitate a two-step process: first humanitarian, then political.
- Italian government sources describe the Vatican’s offer as “generous and free of preconditions.”
- Meloni also coordinated closely with US and EU leaders, securing preliminary support from Washington and Brussels.
- Erdoğan, whose NATO military strength and unique ties with Kyiv and Moscow make him indispensable, is considered a key figure in the talks’ Istanbul track.
What they’re saying. A senior Italian diplomat told Italian newspaper Avvenire that the Vatican’s role would be a “facilitator,” not a lead negotiator.
- The Kremlin remains sceptical, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirming that “no decision has been made” and that Moscow has not received any “specific mediation proposal” from the Holy See.
- Kyiv, while cautious, sees potential in the effort, particularly if it leads to the release of prisoners and the protection of civilians.
A new Rerum Novarum? The initiative comes as Pope Leo XIV reasserts a more structured Vatican diplomacy, moving away from the ad hoc gestures of Pope Francis’s era.
- Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin is back at the helm, working alongside Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, already active in humanitarian efforts related to the war.
- For Erdoğan, who brokered the first grain deal in the Black Sea, the talks offer a chance to reinforce Turkey’s regional influence while maintaining its delicate neutrality.
What we’re watching. Meloni’s step-by-step diplomacy seeks to bridge the conflict’s geopolitical, religious, and humanitarian dimensions.
- Italy and the others are working to manage a June meeting, but Moscow’s buy-in is crucial if the idea does not gain traction.
- The feasibility of a new round in Rome, after the Istanbul one last week, hinges on Putin’s willingness to participate—a significant unknown given recent Russian missile strikes and rising battlefield tensions.
