Festivities Underway at Erie's Annual Troika Russian Festival
- On May 23, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed skepticism in Moscow about the Vatican serving as a suitable location to facilitate negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict involving Russia and Ukraine.
- Lavrov argued that religious differences and the mainly Orthodox status of both nations make the Catholic-led Vatican an uncomfortable place to host negotiations, while Kremlin officials said no meeting location has been agreed.
- Earlier in May, Ukrainian and Russian negotiators held direct discussions in Istanbul, but no consensus exists on future talks, and Ukraine remains under martial law which has suspended its usual election cycle.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reported that the newly elected Pope Leo XIV said he was "always ready" to mediate global conflicts, though he did not directly mention Russia and Ukraine.
- Lavrov’s rejection of the Vatican as a venue suggests ongoing challenges in arranging peace talks, while Turkey and Switzerland remain possible locations for future negotiations.
58 Articles
58 Articles
Russia rejects Vatican offer to host peace talks on Ukraine
(OSV News) — Russia has rejected the Vatican’s offer to host talks for ending the war in Ukraine, despite international support for the idea. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin had offered to “eventually make the Vatican … available for a direct meeting” between Ukraine and Russia, as May 16 talks between those nations in Istanbul ended after just two hours, with little result except for a mutual prisoner exchange. The move was e…
Festivities underway at Erie's annual Troika Russian Festival
The Troika Festival has kicked off in the historic East Bayfront neighborhood, celebrating Russian culture at the Russian Old Rite Orthodox Church of the Nativity. Running for three days, the festival offers attendees a chance to experience Russian music, food, and beer. The event began with a blessing and bell ringing by Father Pimen Simon from the Church of the Nativity of Christ. "We certainly wouldn't start any endeavor without prayer," said…
Russian Orthodox Church: Those Who Don't Know History May Like the Idea of Holding Peace Talks in the Vatican
Advisor to the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, assessed that it is not a good idea for the Vatican to host negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.


Kremlin says Vatican shouldn’t host peace talks due to religious differences
The Kremlin is unenthusiastic about President Donald Trump’s proposal for the Vatican to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. Trump proposed in a Monday statement on social media that Pope Leo XIV host delegations in Vatican City and play…
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