Ukraine conflict briefing: Pope opens Vatican door to peace talks, says Meloni | Ukraine

Pope Leo confirmed to Giorgia Meloni his willingness to host within the Vatican the subsequent spherical of negotiations to attempt to finish the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the Italian prime minister stated on Tuesday. “Discovering within the Holy Father affirmation of the readiness to host the subsequent talks between the events within the Vatican, the prime minister expressed deep gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his unceasing dedication to peace,” stated an announcement from Meloni. Leo, elected two weeks in the past, stated on 14 Might that the Vatican may act as a mediator in world conflicts, with out particularly mentioning Russia’s conflict in opposition to Ukraine.

Individually the Italian prime minister stated she had talks with different European leaders and the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, over subsequent steps.
“It was agreed to take care of shut coordination between the companions with a view to a brand new spherical of negotiations geared toward a ceasefire and a peace settlement in Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy accused Russia of “making an attempt to purchase time” to proceed the conflict, a day after the US president, Donald Trump, mentioned the conflict with the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Their two-hour telephone name, as Peter Beaumont and Pjotr Sauer write, didn’t ship any significant concessions from Moscow. The German defence minister, Boris Pistorius, additionally accused Vladimir Putin of “taking part in for time” and not likely being involved in peace in Ukraine.

In its common evaluation, the Institute for the Research of Warfare stated on Tuesday: “Russia should explicitly acknowledge the legitimacy of the Ukrainian president, authorities, and structure and Ukraine’s sovereignty to be able to interact in significant, good-faith negotiations.” Putin should additionally comply with a ceasefire earlier than negotiation of a closing peace settlement. The ISW stated Russia was making an attempt to increase its listing of calls for when it needs to be making ready to make concessions.

After the European Union on Tuesday adopted its seventeenth spherical of sanctions in opposition to Russia centred on the “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, human rights violations and hybrid threats, the European Fee president, Ursula von der Leyen, stated an additional, 18th bundle was already being ready with additional “hard-hitting” measures. The UK authorities has additionally introduced 100 new sanctions on Russia throughout Russian army, power, monetary sectors and people conducting “Putin’s data conflict in opposition to Ukraine”.

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, stated he anticipated Russia inside days to current broad outlines for a ceasefire with Ukraine that might let the US assess whether or not Moscow is severe. “Sooner or later right here pretty quickly – perhaps in various days, perhaps this week hopefully – the Russian aspect goes to current the phrases,” Rubio advised a Senate listening to.

At the least one civilian was killed and 13 injured in Russian assaults throughout Ukrainian areas over the day before today, regional authorities stated on Tuesday. The ISW assessed that Ukrainian forces have just lately superior in Kursk oblast and close to Borova and Toretsk; whereas Russian forces just lately superior in Kursk oblast and close to Chasiv Yar, Toretsk, and Novopavlivka.

Ukraine’s army stated it has launched one other investigation into the “Anne of Kyiv” brigade, educated in France, after a media report alleged monetary misconduct amongst some commanders, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

The Ukrainian overseas minister, Andriy Sybiha, referred to as on the G7 to cut back its worth cap on Russian seaborne oil to $30 per barrel. The present cap is $60. Ukraine is attending G7 talks in Canada this week.