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Russia has rejected the Vatican's proposal to host the next round of peace talks with Ukraine, calling it an "inelegant" venue for two Orthodox-majority countries.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that it is not appropriate for negotiations to take place in a Catholic country.
" I just want to say, so as not to waste intellectual resources on options that are not realistic. Imagine the Vatican as a place for negotiations - it is not very elegant for Orthodox countries to discuss problems in a Catholic country ," Lavrov says.
The stance follows an offer by Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, to mediate the talks, an idea that was also supported by US President Donald Trump. However, the Kremlin has made it clear that there is no agreement yet on the venue for the future talks.
Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine have launched a major prisoner exchange, freeing 390 people from each side in the first phase of a deal to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side.
This exchange, which is taking place on the border between Ukraine and Belarus, has been considered an important humanitarian step, although it has not brought progress towards a ceasefire or peace agreement.
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