Pope criticizes US bid to ‘break apart’ US-Europe alliance, insists on Europe role in Ukraine peace

Pope Leo XIV has called for Europe to have an essential role in any Ukraine peace agreement, criticizing what he described as the Trump administration’s attempts to fracture the longstanding U.S.-European alliance.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his vacation residence in Castel Gandolfo, the American-born pontiff emphasized that excluding European powers from peace negotiations would be impractical.

“Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe,” Leo said. “Guarantees are also being sought for security today and in the future. Europe must be part of this, and unfortunately not everyone understands this.”

The pope’s comments come as Zelenskyy continues his diplomatic tour across Europe to shore up support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. During their meeting, Leo and Zelenskyy discussed the need for a ceasefire and the Vatican’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities.

Zelenskyy has indicated that peace negotiations with U.S. and European partners currently involve three separate documents: a framework document consisting of 20 points, a second document outlining security guarantees, and a third focused on Ukraine’s recovery efforts.

When asked about the Trump administration’s approach to Ukraine, Leo appeared to address broader concerns about U.S. foreign policy. He referenced the recently released U.S. national security strategy, which has raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles for questioning the value of the U.S.-European alliance while advocating for improved relations with Russia.

“What I’ve read would make a huge change in what was for many, many years a true alliance between Europe and the United States,” the pope remarked. He added that some of President Trump’s comments suggest an effort “trying to break apart what I think needs to be an alliance today and in the future.”

While acknowledging that some Americans might support this policy shift, Leo suggested that “many others would see things in a different way.”

Throughout the conflict, the Holy See has attempted to maintain a position of neutrality while offering humanitarian support to what the pope has described as the “martyred” people of Ukraine. This marks Leo’s third meeting with Zelenskyy, and the pontiff has previously spoken by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Vatican has consistently advocated for a ceasefire, with particular appeals to Russia to take meaningful steps toward peace. One of the Holy See’s concrete initiatives has been facilitating the return of Ukrainian children taken by Russian authorities, with the pope meeting some returned children at the Vatican just last month.

This meeting comes at a critical juncture in the conflict, as both diplomatic and military pressures intensify. European leaders have been increasingly vocal about their role in any potential peace settlement, with concerns mounting that decisions affecting European security could be made without adequate European input.

The war in Ukraine has already dramatically altered Europe’s security landscape, forcing NATO members to increase defense spending and reconsider long-held assumptions about regional stability. Any peace agreement would likely require significant European participation to implement and enforce, particularly regarding security guarantees for Ukraine and regional defense arrangements.

As Ukraine continues to defend its territory against Russian forces, the pope’s intervention highlights the complex interplay of diplomatic, religious, and humanitarian concerns that surround efforts to end the conflict.