Asger Risom
The Ukrainian president says the meeting will depend on ongoing diplomatic efforts with Russia.
As Ukraine continues its struggle against Russian aggression, President Volodymyr Zelenski remains at the center of a flurry of high-level diplomatic activities.
In what could mark a historic encounter, Zelenski has signaled that a meeting with the newly elected Pope Leon XIV might take place this weekend. However, the final decision rests on the outcomes of tense diplomatic developments expected to unfold in the coming days.
Diplomatic Efforts May Shape the Agenda
Speaking to several media outlets including the French newspaper Libération, Zelenski explained that the meeting with Pope Leon XIV would “probably” happen on Sunday, provided that progress is made in upcoming peace discussions with Russia.
“Probably Sunday, if things go well. But we still don’t know how this week will end,” Zelenski said.
The meeting is tentatively scheduled ahead of Pope Leon XIV’s inaugural mass on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, which is expected to draw numerous world leaders, as reported by Digi24.
Peace Talks and Uncertainty
Zelenski has also invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold personal talks in Turkey on Thursday.
If accepted, these would be the first direct peace discussions between Ukraine and Russia since the early stages of the invasion in spring 2022. The Kremlin has so far withheld confirmation of its delegation’s composition for the proposed talks.
“Everything is still very uncertain. We’ve reached a point where we don’t know what tomorrow will bring,” Zelenski told reporters, highlighting the fluidity of the situation.
Papal Involvement and a Call for Peace
Earlier this week, Zelenski held his first telephone conversation with Pope Leon XIV since the pontiff’s election.
During the call, he formally invited the Pope to visit war-torn Ukraine. Just a day before, Pope Leon XIV had publicly urged the world’s major powers to help end the conflict and appealed for a “just” and “lasting” peace in Ukraine.
The world now watches closely as the next few days could shape not only the future of the conflict but also the possible meeting between two of the most visible global leaders.