Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested face-to-face talks in the Vatican with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on ending seven years of conflict in the east of his country, but Russia heaped new scorn on his dogged bid for a meeting and dismissed Ukrainian calls for a new approach to securing peace.

The project was conceived years ago but in the last year or so, Orthodox ecclesiastical authorities, who suddenly seem well-financed, have whipped up a storm of opposition, saying their rich and unique traditions are under threats from "foreign forces", namely Turkey.