ROME – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis in Rome on May 13 to discuss his peace plan and ongoing Russian military aggression against his country. During the meeting, the Ukrainian president requested the pontiff’s support for Ukrainian settlements affected by Russian attacks, food insecurity, the release of prisoners and the restoration of justice.
Zelenskyy highlighted the urgency of finding a solution to the current war in Ukraine, which has been marked by repeated truces. In addition, the Ukrainian president discussed the deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children taken to Russia during the war in a program of forced relocation and re-education. Zelenskyy requested the pope’s assistance on helping to bring these children back home to their families.
The Ukrainian government has accused Russia of war crimes in the region and Zelenskyy asked Pope Francis to condemn these alleged crimes, stressing the importance of humanitarian efforts in the area.
The meeting between the Ukrainian president and the pope follows the delivery of Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine from the UK, which angered Russia, claiming that these missiles damaged civilian enterprise. The Vatican’s written statement, however, made no mention of the request for help but, instead, spoke of the need for continued humanitarian efforts in the region.
Furthermore, Zelenskyy’s 10-point peace plan envisages the establishment of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian war crimes and create a European-Atlantic security architecture with guarantees for Ukraine. The German government has pledged over €2.7 billion ($3 billion) worth of additional military aid to Ukraine while Italian officials pledged unlimited military and financial support for Ukraine, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stating that “the future of Europe… for which there are no other possible solutions” involves supporting Ukraine’s cherished aim to join the EU.
Zelenskyy also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Head of State Sergio Mattarella, who pledged open-ended military and financial support for Ukraine, as well as stronger backing for the country’s aspiration to join the European Union.
The Vatican has previously mediated in prisoner swaps and Pope Francis recently revealed a secret peace “mission” was underway to return Ukrainian children taken to Russia after the conflict. The pope has frequently called for an end to the Russian war in Ukraine and Zelenskyy has welcomed his personal attention to the tragedy of millions of Ukrainians affected by the conflict.
In conclusion, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy’s visit to Rome to meet with Pope Francis highlights the urgent need for peace in the region and the importance of humanitarian efforts to support millions of Ukrainians living in war zones. The meeting also underlines the need for continued international support to help restore peace and stability in the region.
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