Trump-Putin summit: Rome host option scrapped: Kremlin says Italy is "too aligned with Kiev."

The long-awaited meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to discuss Ukraine will not take place in Rome . The face-to-face meeting, the only one "authorized" by the Kremlin, which has so far rejected the US president's suggestion of a trilateral meeting with Ukraine itself and its leader Volodymyr Zelensky present, will not take place in Italy.

The idea of holding the two-way meeting in the capital, which emerged after leaks leaked to US broadcaster Fox News citing sources close to the negotiations, has fallen through due to opposition from the Kremlin, which "considers Italy to be a nation too aligned with Ukraine ." The Russian news agency Tass also denied the Rome proposal, claiming the meeting should be " not in Europe ."

It wouldn't be the only obstacle. While the Kremlin views Palazzo Chigi's international standing as an obstacle, there's also a more "technical" issue: Putin is still officially wanted on an international arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court , which Italy recognizes by signing the Rome Accords.

At the moment, the most likely option seems to be the United Arab Emirates . "We have many friends willing to help us organize this type of event. One of them is the president of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Zayed , who is visiting Russia. I think we will decide, but it would be one of the most suitable places," Putin himself emphasized in the last few hours, after his meeting in the Kremlin with US special envoy Steve Witkoff .

The possibility of a bilateral US-Russia summit in the Vatican has not been denied, but it still appears unlikely. The Holy See has never hidden its willingness to host an international summit on Ukraine, both with Francis and Leo XIV. Furthermore, in recent months the Vatican has also permitted the repatriation of several Ukrainian children and prisoner exchanges, but the St. Peter's option remains on the back burner.