Pope Leo has offered the Vatican as a venue for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
The new pontiff made the gesture to help solve the ‘very difficult, dramatic situation’.
A spokesman for the leader of the Catholic Church said he was hopeful he could provide an ‘opening for peace’.
His Holiness’s offer yesterday came as Russia and Ukraine each agreed to release 1,000 prisoners before the negotiations in Istanbul appeared to break down after an hour and a half.
No progress was made towards a ceasefire in what were the first direct talks between the warring parties for three years.
