The US and European leaders are placing their hopes in the Vatican to engage Russia and Ukraine in peace talks, after President Donald Trump said Pope Leo XIV had expressed interest in the idea. The Kremlin isn’t so keen.

Technical talks on Ukraine, Russia, US, and Europe may take place at the Vatican next week, per Finland’s President Stubb, as leaders push for ceasefire and peace after recent Istanbul discussions.

The first direct talks between Russia and Ukraine since the war began lasted just two hours in Istanbul on Friday and only agreed on a prisoner swap, in a sign the two sides remain very far apart. The Turkish Foreign Ministry announced to journalists that the meeting had ended with no explanation but according to people familiar with the talks,