Russian President Vladimir Putin has turned down a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to hold the next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks at the Vatican. The idea, initially supported by Pope Leo XIV and publicly backed by Trump, was dismissed by the Kremlin.
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Trump’s Special Envoy Keith Kellogg confirmed the rejection: “The Russians didn’t want to go there.” He suggested Geneva could be considered as a new location for the talks.
Peace Process on Hold
The timeline for the next peace meeting remains unclear. Russia has yet to formally respond to the U.S.-supported peace plan. Its foreign ministry said on Tuesday that it was still working on a “memorandum of terms” and hadn’t finalized its position.
The delay is stalling diplomatic progress even as the war enters its third year with increasing violence.
Trump Issues Stern Warning to Putin
President Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to express his frustration with Putin.
“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean BAD,” Trump wrote. “He’s playing with fire!”
Trump accused Putin of becoming unpredictable and dangerous: “He has gone absolutely CRAZY! He is needlessly killing a lot of people, and I’m not just talking about soldiers. Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever.”
He warned that if Putin attempts to take over the entire country of Ukraine, “it will lead to the downfall of Russia.”
Largest Drone Attack Yet
Tensions rose sharply after Russia carried out its biggest drone and missile attack since the war began. On Sunday, Russia reportedly launched 335 drones and nine cruise missiles, targeting Ukrainian cities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Moscow’s actions, accusing Russia of “playing games” with diplomacy while increasing civilian attacks. “They are playing games while our people suffer,” Zelensky said.
Trump Criticizes Both Putin and Zelensky
In a surprising twist, Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky. He said Zelensky “was doing his country no favors by talking the way he does,” although he did not specify what statement had triggered his reaction. “Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop,” Trump wrote.
This unexpected criticism adds new tension between the U.S. and Ukraine, even as the two remain allies against Russian aggression.
Kremlin Dismisses Trump’s Comments
The Kremlin responded to Trump’s strong remarks by calling them “emotional.” Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Trump’s early role in facilitating talks but played down his current statements.
“We are grateful to the Americans and to President Trump personally for their assistance in organizing and launching this negotiation process,” Peskov said. “This is a very crucial moment… with emotional reactions from all sides.”
As violence intensifies and diplomatic efforts remain stalled, the path forward for Russia-Ukraine peace talks is uncertain. All eyes are now on whether Trump can revive the process—or if it’s too late.
