US President Donald Trump has reportedly agreed to allow Theophilos III, the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, to act as a mediator between russia and Ukraine as part of efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
It was reported by Ynet, citing sources familiar with the meeting.
It is noted that the meeting took place last Thursday at the White House amid Trump’s efforts to end the war between russia and Ukraine. It lasted about 40 minutes.
Among the issues discussed was the possibility that the patriarch could help establish a channel of communication between moscow and Kyiv. As the publication notes, Theophilos is considered a figure trusted by both sides, thanks to his authority in the Orthodox world and his participation in past diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives, particularly in contacts between russia and Israel regarding the release of Israeli tourist Naama Issachar from a russian prison.
According to sources, as part of this initiative, the religious leader is set to meet with russian dictator vladimir putin later this month. They added that his main advantage lies in the fact that he is “an apolitical figure who enjoys religious and moral credibility.”
Those close to Theophilus III believe that the US president is seeking to make progress in at least one of the world’s major conflict zones and that any movement on the Ukraine issue could also influence Washington’s strategic priorities in other regions.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, meanwhile, a spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that European leaders are ready to take a leading role in negotiations to end russia’s war against Ukraine.
Recall that earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that peace talks between russia and Ukraine have so far “not been fruitful,” and the US is not interested in endless meetings without progress. At the same time, the country is prepared to continue participating in the talks if they prove productive.
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