Pope Leo XIV Urges Ukraine Ceasefire Before Trump–Putin Alaska Talks
Pope Leo XIV has made a heartfelt plea for an immediate halt to the fighting in Ukraine, just days before a closely watched summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.
Addressing crowds outside his summer retreat at Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo, the pontiff spoke of the urgent need to choose dialogue over destruction.
“We must always seek a ceasefire. The violence, the many deaths, must stop. Let’s see how they can come to an agreement,” Pope Leo XIV told the gathered audience.
“After all this time, what is the purpose of war? We must always seek dialogue, diplomatic efforts, not violence, not weapons.”
His call echoes repeated appeals from Kyiv and European leaders for an unconditional ceasefire as the first step towards meaningful talks — an idea Moscow has repeatedly pushed aside.
The high-stakes meeting between Trump and Putin is set for the morning of 15 August, kicking off between 11:00 and 11:30 a.m. local time. It will include a private discussion with only interpreters present.
Their first face-to-face since the start of Trump’s second term will begin with a one-on-one session, as outlined in this report on the Alaska summit, before moving on to wider discussions.
This will be their first face-to-face meeting since Trump began his second term, adding weight to the political drama. Speaking on Fox Radio the day before, Trump hinted at a breakthrough.
“I believe now he’s convinced that he’s going to make a deal. He’s going to make a deal. I think he’s going to,” the US leader said. “And we’re going to find out, I’m going to know very quickly.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had signalled willingness to join the talks in a three-way format. However, Trump confirmed that Zelensky will not be present in Alaska.
Putin, for his part, has stressed that more preparatory work is required before such a meeting could take place.
With Alaska set to host two of the world’s most powerful men, Pope Leo XIV’s words serve as a stark reminder that, beyond the geopolitics, lives continue to be lost on the ground.
