• Russia's Foreign Minister questioned the suitability of the Vatican for peace talks with Ukraine.
• Recent talks between Russia and Ukraine resulted in a planned prisoner exchange.
• Italian PM confirmed the Vatican's willingness to host negotiations.
• The Kremlin stated there are no agreement details for future meetings.
• Lavrov emphasized the discomfort of Orthodox nations discussing conflict on a Catholic platform.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov cast doubt on Friday over the Vatican as a potential location for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, suggesting that it would be uncomfortable for the Holy See to host delegations from two predominantly Orthodox Christian nations. Lavrov stated, "Imagine the Vatican as a venue for negotiations. It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes of the conflict," according to Channel News Asia and South China Morning Post.

Despite these concerns, significant diplomatic efforts continue, including a major prisoner exchange initiated between Russia and Ukraine on Friday. This exchange, which involves the transfer of 1,000 prisoners from each side, follows initial direct talks that resumed earlier this month after more than three years, as confirmed by sources including Anadolu Agency and Reuters.

During the recent discussions in Istanbul, the two countries agreed to preliminary plans for a ceasefire, although Lavrov reiterated that there have been no finalized agreements on future negotiations. He remarked, "Many people are fantasising about when and where it [the meeting] will take place. We don't have any ideas right now," highlighting the complexity of the current situation, according to Channel News Asia and Anadolu Agency.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed her discussions with Pope Leo XIV regarding the Vatican's potential role as a mediator in global conflicts; however, the Vatican press office has not released further details. Lavrov expressed reservations, noting that it might not be comfortable for the Vatican to host Orthodox nations under the current circumstances, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.