White House responds to Pope Leo’s rebuke of Trump peace plan for Ukraine

 The White House has responded to Pope Leo XIV’s criticism of President Donald Trump’s Ukraine peace plan that was made in a rare unguarded moment while speaking to reporters in the town of Castel Gandolfo, Italy.

Referring to Trump’s peace plan for Ukraine, the pontiff said: “I think, unfortunately, some parts of it I have seen make a huge change in what was, for many, many years, a true alliance between Europe and the United States.

“The remarks that were made about Europe, also in interviews recently, I think, are trying to break apart what I think needs to be a very important alliance today and in the future. 

“So it is a program that President Donald Trump and his advisers put together. He is the president of the United States, and he has the right to do that. It has a number of things in it that I think that, while perhaps many people in the U.S. would be in agreement, I think that many others would see things in a different way.”

In response, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly told Newsweek: “President Trump has great relationships with many European leaders, but he never shies away from delivering hard truths. The devastating impacts of unchecked migration, and those migrants’ inability to assimilate, are not just a concern for President Trump, but for Europeans themselves, who have increasingly noted immigration as one of their top concerns.

“These open-border policies have led to widespread examples of violence, spikes in crime and more, with detrimental impacts on the fiscal sustainability of social safety net programs. As the president remarked at the United Nations General Assembly, his efforts to secure the border saved America from such destruction, and other countries would be wise to follow suit.”

Why It Matters

The pope‘s public criticism of the peace plan has spotlighted tensions in trans-Atlantic relations and renewed debate over the appropriate structure for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. 

The remarks, made after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, represent a rare direct intervention by the pontiff in a geopolitical dispute. As the leader of over 1 billion Catholics and an advocate for peace, Pope Leo’s comments carry influence in diplomatic and humanitarian arenas—especially at a time when allied unity is under strain.

What To Know

The pope met with Zelensky on Tuesday at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, a town roughly 15 miles from Rome.

Following their discussion, the pope addressed reporters on the growing concerns surrounding Trump’s proposed Ukraine peace plan.

The plan, shaped by the Trump administration in consultation with Moscow but reportedly excluding early European participation, has drawn skepticism from both European officials and the Vatican.

The Holy See has played an ongoing role in calling for a ceasefire and facilitating dialogue between Kyiv and Moscow, particularly in humanitarian efforts to return Ukrainian children taken to Russia.

Per The Associated Press, the pope said: “Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe. Europe must be part of this, and unfortunately, not everyone understands this, but I think there is a great opportunity for European leaders to unite and seek a solution together.”

According to the official Vatican summary of the meeting, the pope and Zelensky discussed the progress and challenges of ongoing humanitarian mediation, including efforts to return abducted Ukrainian children, release prisoners of war, and sustain diplomatic dialogue.

According to a Vatican statement released after the Castel Gandolfo talks, the pope “reiterated the need for the continuation of dialogue and expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace.”

The pope confirmed he discussed bringing back abducted children from Ukraine with Zelensky

“Most of the work that’s going on, which is very slow, unfortunately, but is done, if you will, behind the scenes,” he said, adding that work was being done to “get those children back to their homes, to their families.”

What People Are Saying

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on X: “Ukraine deeply appreciates all the support of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV and the Holy See – the ongoing humanitarian assistance and the readiness to expand humanitarian missions.

“During today’s audience with His Holiness, I thanked him for his constant prayers for Ukraine and for the Ukrainian people, as well as for his calls for a just peace. I informed the Pope about diplomatic efforts with the United States to achieve peace.

“We discussed further actions and the Vatican’s mediation aimed at returning our children abducted by Russia. I am grateful to His Holiness for all his efforts to support young Ukrainians. Thank you for this conversation and for all the attention given to our people. I invited the Pope to visit Ukraine. This would be a powerful signal of support for our people.”

President Donald Trump told Politico, referring to Europe’s political leaders: “They’re weak. They want to be so politically correct. They don’t know what to do.”

What Happens Next

The Vatican has restated its readiness to provide space and opportunities for direct talks between parties, though the pope noted that to date, such offers have not been accepted by all sides. 

The papal intervention may influence not only European leaders but also policymaker in Washington as debate continues about the best approach to peace in Ukraine.