Trump is betting on the Pope

Journalists point out that Leo XIV's proposal to hold peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in the Vatican was an important step for the first pontiff born in the United States.

What is important to understand is that this happened against the backdrop of the slow retreat of US leader Donald Trump from the role of mediator in negotiations.

It's no secret that the Vatican has acted as a mediator in complex diplomatic issues before.

This time, however, there is a high probability that the Pope, who has been in office for less than two weeks, will find himself embroiled in a protracted conflict that has no clear outcome yet, writes Bloomberg.

After talks with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Trump made it clear that the Vatican had expressed great interest in holding talks.

According to Italian leader Giorgia Meloni, preparatory work has already started.