ROME, Italy — Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday stressed that Europe must play a central role in any peace agreement on Ukraine, as he criticized what he described as efforts by the Trump administration to weaken the long-standing alliance between the United States and Europe.
Leo made the remarks after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is touring European capitals to secure continued support for Kyiv. The American pope said they discussed calls for a ceasefire and the Vatican’s ongoing efforts to help return Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities.
When asked about the U.S. peace proposal and the apparent sidelining of European governments, Leo said Europe cannot be excluded from discussions about a war unfolding on its own continent.
“Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe,” he said as he left his residence in Castel Gandolfo. “Security guarantees are being sought today and for the future. Europe must be part of this, and not everyone seems to understand that. But I believe there is a great opportunity for European leaders to unite and pursue a common solution.”
Zelenskyy earlier said the peace plan being discussed with the U.S. and European partners includes three documents, a 20-point framework, a second set of security guarantees, and a third plan for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Leo was also asked about the U.S. peace plan, but his response focused on broader concerns about the Trump administration’s stance on the transatlantic alliance. The administration recently released its national security strategy questioning the U.S. commitment to Europe and expressing interest in improving relations with Russia.
Leo said the document would mark “a huge change” to what had long been considered a solid partnership between Washington and European capitals. He added that statements by U.S. President Donald Trump appear aimed at “trying to break apart what I think needs to be an alliance today and in the future.”
While some in the United States may support that position, “many others would see things in a different way,” he said.
The Vatican has maintained a stance of neutrality in Russia’s war on Ukraine while extending humanitarian assistance to what Pope Leo calls the “martyred” Ukrainian people. He has met Zelenskyy three times and has spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Leo has repeatedly called for a ceasefire and urged Russia in particular to take steps that could help pave the way for peace. The Vatican has also worked to help secure the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, and last month Leo met with several children who had been brought back.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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