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The Pope communicated to Zelensky his constant prayer for peace in Ukraine upon receiving him at the Vatican

The Pope communicated to Zelensky his constant prayer for peace in Ukraine upon receiving him at the Vatican

At the meeting, the Holy See added, “the Pope has assured his constant prayer, witnessed by his numerous public appeals and continuous invocation to the Lord for peace, since February of last year.”

In the meeting, the pontiff “underlined in particular the urgent need for human gestures towards the most fragile people, innocent victims of the conflict.”

The meeting took place in a context of confidential negotiations by the Holy See to achieve a rapprochement between Ukraine and Russia, and after the public announcement by the pontiff that the Vatican will mediate to obtain the restitution of thousands of children that Kiev denounces were deported to Russia.

According to what Zelenski indicated today in Rome, his government has identified more than 19,000 children taken by force from the country, but he pointed out that “the real number” could be at least 200,000.

“I met with Pope Francis. I appreciate his personal attention to the tragedy of millions of Ukrainians. I spoke of tens of thousands of deported Ukrainian children. We must do everything possible to bring them home,” the president tweeted after the meeting.

“In addition, I asked that Russia’s crimes in Ukraine be condemned. Because there can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor. I also spoke about our Peace Formula as the only effective algorithm to achieve a just peace. I proposed that it be united for its application “, he added.

Since the start of the war, the Pope and the president have spoken by phone at least twice, according to what Francis revealed in dialogue with journalists. Zelensky already visited the Pope in 2020.

After the meeting, the pontiff gave him a bronze work with an olive branch, “symbol of peace”, in addition to his writings, while the president gave him a work of art taken from a projectile shelter and a painting linked to the murder of children during the conflict.

For the moment, however, Francisco did not talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin, although he showed his willingness to contact the president and hinted at the Kremlin leader’s rejection of a meeting. Last Thursday, Francis received the Russian ambassador to the Holy See, Alexander Avdeev, for the traditional farewell visit.

Weeks ago, Francis received Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, in the first high-level bilateral between the two countries since the start of the Russian invasion.

For the moment, Francis has not been to Kiev since the start of the war as he seeks to make a joint visit to Moscow, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni visited the Ukrainian capital in February.

Two weeks ago, the premier also received Shmyhal to launch a forum with which he seeks to involve Italian companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war.

At Italian noon, Zelensky began his round of meetings with a meeting of about half an hour with President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale Palace, where he was received with military honors and the Ukrainian flag raised while hymns played.

“Italy was and is on the right side, on the side of truth in this war. We are moving in the direction of victory. Victory means peace for our country,” Zelensky said after the meeting with the president.

“Welcome President, Italy is completely by your side,” Mattarella had told him upon receiving him.

After the meeting with the president, Zelenski held a “long and prolific” 70-minute meeting with the right-wing Meloni, as the premier described it in statements to the press, highlighting “the relations between Italy and Ukraine.”

“Italy has a very clear pro-Ukraine position,” added the premier.

Zelensky, meanwhile, raised his appreciation “for the constant position on support for Ukraine.”

“We appreciate the important military assistance that gives our country the ability to resist Russian aggression. The key to our success on the battlefield is the timely receipt of the necessary assistance,” the Ukrainian leader said later.

In the joint statement to the press after the meeting, Meloni assured Zelensky that Italy supports Kiev’s accession to the European Union (EU).

“Since the beginning, Italy has been at the forefront of granting EU candidate status to Ukraine, and will continue to secure its support to facilitate the progressive integration of Kiev, which fights to uphold the European values ​​of freedom and democracy; and It is an outpost of the security of the European continent,” Meloni said.

Arriving at Ciampino airport in the capital this morning, Zelensky had considered that today is “an important visit to get closer to the victory of Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian president will be in Germany tomorrow, where he will meet with the head of the government Olaf Scholz and with the president Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

In addition, there he will receive the Charlemagne prize, which rewards a particularly outstanding commitment to understanding in Europe.

The main European economy announced today the largest military aid package for Kiev since the start of the war, equivalent to 2.7 billion euros and which will include 30 Leopard-1 A5 tanks, Marder-type armored vehicles, anti-aircraft defense systems and drones. surveillance, according to the weekly Der Spiegel.

Source: Ambito

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