© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a joint press convention with European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen (not pictured), amid Russia’s assault on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Might 9, 2023. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko
By Philip Pullella
ROME (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy started a go to to Rome on Saturday for talks with authorities officers and Pope Francis, who in late April stated that the Vatican is concerned in a peace mission to finish the battle with Russia.
Zelenskiy, on his first journey to Italy since Russia invaded in February final yr, held talks with President Sergio Mattarella on the Quirinale Palace and was as a consequence of have a working lunch with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni earlier than heading to the Vatican.
On Twitter, Zelenskiy known as his go to to Italy and the Vatican “An essential go to for approaching victory of Ukraine!”
As he headed to the presidential palace, Zeleniskiy’s motorcade handed by small teams holding Ukrainian flags, with one particular person holding up an indication condemning Russia.
Zelenskiy, whose airplane was escorted over Italian airspace by fighter jets, was additionally anticipated to be the visitor of a well-liked Italian tv speak present earlier than heading to Germany.
Meloni visited Zelenskiy in Kyiv in February to guarantee him of Italy’s continued help for Ukraine, regardless of a few of her allies, most notably former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, having longstanding, shut ties with Moscow.
The assembly with the pope is predicted to be essentially the most vital a part of Zelenskiy’s time in Italy. He beforehand met the pope on the Vatican in 2020 and the 2 have had a number of telephone conversations for the reason that battle started.
Initially of the battle, the pope tried to take a balanced method in hopes of being a mediator however later started forcefully condemning Russia actions, evaluating them to a few of the worst crimes towards Ukraine in the course of the Soviet period.
Coming back from a visit to Hungary on April 30, Francis made an intriguing however puzzling remark in regards to the Vatican being concerned in a mission to attempt to finish the battle. “There’s a mission in course now however it isn’t but public. When it’s public, I’ll reveal it,” he instructed reporters throughout his flight dwelling.
Each Moscow and Kyiv publicly expressed shock at his feedback. The Vatican has insisted that one thing is within the works however has provided no particulars.
Francis met this week with Russia’s outgoing ambassador to the Vatican, Alexander Avdeyev, and the Italian newspaper Il Messaggero reported that the Vatican could have given the envoy a letter for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
PEACE EFFORTS
Francis has pleaded for peace virtually on a weekly foundation, and has repeatedly expressed a want to act as a dealer between Kyiv and Moscow. His supply has to this point failed to provide any breakthrough.
The pope has a standing invitation from Zelenskiy to go to Kyiv however the pope has stated beforehand that he additionally desires to go to Moscow as a part of the identical peace mission.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met the pope on the Vatican on April 27 and stated he had mentioned a “peace method” put ahead by Zelenskiy.
Zelenskiy and his staff have been vigorously selling Kyiv’s 10-point peace plan and urging world leaders to carry a International Peace Summit based mostly on the proposals.
It requires restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity, the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities, and the restoration of Ukraine’s state borders. Zelenskiy has repeatedly stated the plan will not be open to negotiations.
The pope has stated the Vatican is prepared to do “all that’s humanly doable” to assist the repatriation of Ukrainian youngsters. Kyiv estimates practically 19,500 youngsters have been taken to Russia or Russian-occupied Crimea since February 2022, in what it condemns as unlawful deportations.