Russia prefers Turkey over Trump-backed Pope Leo XIV as Ukraine truce talk host

Russia has voiced its support for Turkey hosting another round of peace negotiations with Ukraine following a previous meeting earlier this month, which failed to yield any substantial progress amid US-led efforts to halt the ongoing war, now in its fourth year.

“We are grateful for Turkey for its readiness to continue assisting with such negotiations and a peace settlement,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday, after discussions in Moscow with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.

The initial direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, held earlier in Istanbul, ended without agreement after Moscow declined a US-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Instead, Russia reiterated its longstanding hardline demands aimed at ending its prolonged invasion of Ukraine, which began in 2022.

More from World

Russia says peace 'memorandum' drafted, will present it to Ukraine next week in Turkey Russia says Ukraine, backed by Europe, is trying to wreck peace talks

Proposals by European nations and the US to hold peace negotiations at the Vatican, an initiative supported by Pope Leo XIV, were also rejected by Russia, Bloomberg reported.

Fidan additionally met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lavrov late on Monday, according to Kremlin statements.

Meanwhile, Russia continues to prepare a draft memorandum for a possible peace agreement with Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday, as reported by the Interfax news agency.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump expressed frustration over stalled peace efforts, criticising Putin publicly. Trump indicated the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia, condemning Putin as “absolutely CRAZY!” and accusing him of “needlessly killing a lot of people” through recent drone and missile attacks.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘The cries of this widow will echo’: In first public remarks, Erika Kirk warns Charlie’s killers they’ve ‘unleashed a fire’

Trump urges Nato to back sanctions on Russia, calls for 50–100% tariffs on China

Ukraine reported a record wave of Russian attacks overnight into Monday, marking the third consecutive night of heavy strikes involving drones and cruise missiles across various regions. Kyiv stated that the assaults injured civilians and damaged critical infrastructure.

During their meeting on Tuesday, Lavrov and Fidan also addressed “some setbacks” in the construction of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in southern Turkey. The facility, Turkey’s first nuclear plant, is being constructed by Russia’s state nuclear agency, Rosatom, but has faced repeated delays.