Kremlin Refutes Claims of Vatican Peace Talks With Ukraine Amid Ongoing Tensions

The Kremlin stated on Thursday that it has not consented to peace negotiations with Ukraine in the Vatican, contradicting U.S. media reports suggesting that the city-state might soon facilitate discussions.

Last week, Russian and Ukrainian officials engaged in their first in-person talks in over three years in Istanbul, but they did not succeed in reaching a ceasefire agreement.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that subsequent negotiations might be set to commence in mid-June at the Vatican, but Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed this information.

«We have not made any agreements regarding this issue,» Peskov informed reporters.

He also refuted Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s claim that «technical discussions» could occur at the Vatican as early as next week.

«There are no specific agreements concerning future meetings. This is still a matter that needs to be addressed,» Peskov elaborated.

U.S. President Donald Trump had a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, but neither that discussion nor the prior Istanbul meetings resulted in any change in Russia’s stance regarding the war against Ukraine.

Putin has consistently turned down Kyiv’s requests for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, instead suggesting an ambiguous «memorandum» detailing Moscow’s demands.