Russia peace talks in the Vatican marks a significant development for the first US-born pontiff, just as the Trump administration appears to be stepping back from leading negotiations.The Vatican has helped arbitrate delicate matters of diplomacy in the past.

Trump and Russia’s Putin spoke as Ukraine and Europe push for a ceasefire. The Supreme Court let Trump cancel protected status for Venezuelans. New worries about the U.S. economic outlook are coming into focus.

Weeks after Pope Francis died, president laughed off questions about Trump pope pic, his dismissal on the eve of papal conclave. Pope Leo was chosen

Pope Leo XIV issued a Donald Trump putdown while two of the president’s key allies sat watching from the pews.Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both made the trip to the Vatican to witness the new pontiff’s inaugural mass Sunday.

Donald Trump has been urged to pressure Russia with further sanctions, after Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky warned Vladimir Putin is “trying to buy time” to continue his war.The US president insisted progress had been made after his two-hour call with the Russian president on Monday.

Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky met Pope Leo at the Vatican earlier this week Italy has backed President Donald Trump's suggestion the Vatican might mediate talks on negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine, while he appears keen to step back from the process himself.

President Donald Trump is expected to head to Capitol Hill on Tuesday as he continues pushing Congress to pass his "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," which narrowly passed a House committee vote on Sunday.

President Trump said ceasefire negotiations will begin "immediately," but the Kremlin has expressed little eagerness for a ceasefire in the war it began.