Vatican Could Serve as Venue for Ukraine Cease-Fire Talks, Rubio Says

The U.S. state secretary says the Vatican would not act as a peace broker but would provide a place that both sides would be comfortable going.

Visitors walk on Via della Conciliazione street with a view of The Vatican's St Peter's Basilica, in Rome, on April 24, 2025. Piero Cruciatti/AFP via Getty Images

The Vatican could potentially serve as a venue for hosting cease-fire talks between Russia and Ukraine, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Speaking to reporters in Rome on May 17, Rubio said that he would speak with Cardinal Matteo Zuppi about Pope Leo XIV’s offer to make “every effort” to end the war in Ukraine.