During discussions with European leaders on May 19, US President Donald Trump revealed that the next Russia-Ukraine negotiations would occur at the Vatican, according to a May 21 Wall Street Journal report citing insider sources.
The WSJ noted that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the President's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, would represent the US in the forthcoming talks.
Among those engaged in discussions with Trump were French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Several European leaders pushed for the Vatican talks to result in an unconditional ceasefire.
Trump reportedly objected to the term "unconditional," despite having previously used it when advocating for a 30-day truce. Ultimately, European leaders agreed to omit the wording, the WSJ stated.
Sources indicated the Vatican negotiations could occur as soon as mid-June.
Earlier, Finnish President Alexander Stubb suggested that "technical" discussions between Russian and Ukrainian representatives might take place at the Vatican the following week.
The last round of Russia-Ukraine talks was held in Istanbul on May 16. International agencies reported that during those discussions, Moscow presented what were described as "unrealistic" demands, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from "several regions inside Ukraine."