Ukrainian President, Volodimir Zelenskyrequested on Saturday the Pope Francisco that support the kyiv peace planand the Holy Father indicated that the Vatican would assist in the repatriation of Ukrainian children taken to Russia. Earlier on Saturday, Zelensky met with the Italian Prime MinisterGiorgia Meloni, who pledged full military and financial support to Ukraine and reiterated its support for his candidacy for accession to the EU.
Zelensky, who was visiting Rome for the first time since the start of the war, spoke with the Supreme Pontiff for 40 minutes and you gave away a bulletproof vest which had been used by a Ukrainian soldier and later painted with an image of the Virgin. According to a Vatican statement, in their private conversations, Zelensky and the Pope spoke of “humanitarian gestures”which, according to a Vatican source, was a reference to the Vatican’s willingness to assist in the repatriation of the Ukrainian children.
kyiv estimates that about 19,500 children have been taken to Russia or Crimea -occupied by Russia- since February 2022, in what it condemns as illegal deportations. “We must do everything possible to return them home,” Zelensky said in a tweet afterwards, noting that he had discussed it with the Pope.
Zelensky also said that he had asked Francis to “join” kyiv’s 10-point peace plan. It calls for the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the withdrawal of Russian troops and the cessation of hostilities, as well as the restoration of the state borders of Ukraine.. Zelensky has repeatedly said that the plan is not open for negotiation.
At the beginning of the warthe Pope tried to take a balanced approach in the hope of being a mediator, but later began to strongly condemn Russia’s actions, comparing them to some of the worst crimes against Ukraine during the Soviet era. “I asked the Pope to condemn Russian crimes in Ukraine. Because there can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor,” Zelenski said in his tweet.
Returning from a trip to Hungary on April 30, Francisco made an intriguing comment about the Vatican’s involvement in a mission to try to end the war. “There is a mission in progressbut it has not yet been made public. When it becomes public, I will reveal it.”he told reporters during his flight home.
However the Vatican statement did not mention such a mission and, later, in an interview on Italian television, Zelensky seemed to rule out mediation outside kyiv’s own peace plan. “Putin only kills. We don’t need mediation with him”he claimed.
appeals for peace
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Francis has advocated for peace practically every week, and has repeatedly expressed his desire to act as a mediator between kyiv and Moscow visiting both capitals. Until now, his offer has not yielded any results.
Previously, both Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella reiterated Italy’s full support for Ukraine in terms of military, financial, humanitarian and reconstruction aid in the short and long term. In a press conference, Meloni condemned the “brutal and unjust aggression” of Russia, promised Italy’s support for Ukraine for “as long as it takes” and urged Russia to withdraw immediately.
“Peace cannot be achieved through surrender” he said, adding: “It would be a very serious precedent for all the nations of the world.” He stressed Italy’s support for the Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and to the “intensification” of a partnership with NATO.
Zelensky flew to Rome on an Italian government plane which was escorted by fighters over Italian airspace. He is scheduled to visit Berlin on SundayGerman government sources told Reuters on Saturday.
Source: Ambito
