The Vatican, which was largely sidelined during the first three years of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has offered to host any peace talks.

The talks took place as some on the American Right who had clashed with Pope Francis, Leo’s predecessor, seek better ties with the papacy.

On Monday, Vice President JD Vance met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where he gifted the Chicago-born pope a custom Bears jersey, according to CBS News. It included his name (Pope Leo) and number (naturally, XIV). “Good choice,” he told Vance when he received the jersey.

By Guy Faulconbridge, Steve Holland and Max Hunder MOSCOW/WASHINGTON/KYIV (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Russia's Vladimir Putin about Ukraine on Monday, after Vice President JD Vance said Washington could walk away from the peace process and conclude that "this is not our war".

The US acknowledges that negotiations to end Russia’s war against Ukraine are currently at an impasse, states US Vice President J.D. Vance, according to Sky News. "We realise there's a bit of an impasse here (in the peace negotiations regarding Ukraine — ed.