President Zelensky Meets Pope Francis in Vatican, Seeks Help for Ukraine Peace Plan

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned Saturday that he had a non-public assembly with Pope Francis on the Vatican and later requested the Pope to assist the peace plan. The Pope has supplied to assist finish the all-out conflict that Russia has began yearly. Earlier than.

Inserting his hand on his chest, Mr Zelensky mentioned he was “very honored” to satisfy the Pope. Francis got here to greet the Ukrainian president, on a cane due to his knee drawback, earlier than escorting him to the Papal Studios close to the Vatican’s Viewers Corridor.

In a tweet after the 40-minute viewers, President Zelensky thanked “Francis for his private concern for the tragedy of tens of millions of Ukrainians.” He mentioned he had spoken with the pope about tens of 1000’s of (Ukrainian) kids in exile. We should make each effort to deliver them house. “

Final month, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmikhal requested the Pope to assist return kids from Russia to Ukraine. However the Vatican’s assertion on Saturday made no point out of the request.

As a substitute, the Vatican mentioned the 2 spoke concerning the “humanitarian and political state of affairs brought on by the continuing conflict” in Ukraine.

The Vatican mentioned, “The Pope is testified by the attraction to his many peoples and his continued prayers of peace to the Lord since February final yr, guaranteeing fixed prayer.” referring to the yr 2022.

“Each events have agreed on the necessity to proceed their humanitarian efforts,” the Vatican mentioned in an announcement.

The talks got here amid an announcement by the Russian Protection Ministry {that a} long-range Storm Shadow cruise missile delivered to Ukraine from Britain this week had broken an unspecified non-public firm in Ukraine’s far jap Luhansk area. Individually, Luhansk authorities introduced that one other missile strike hit the regional capital, injuring an aged girl.

Two Russian Mi-8 helicopters and a Su-34 fighter-bomber crashed on Saturday within the Bryansk area that borders Ukraine, the state-run TASS information company and a Telegram channel near the Russian Protection Ministry reported. The reason for the crash was not instantly clear, however fears of a cross-border assault from Ukraine are rising in Bryansk.

Some Ukrainian troops continued their advance close to Bakhmut on Saturday, a day after the Ukrainian military commander introduced he had retaken territory on the scene of the longest and bloodiest battle within the historical past of conflict. introduced that it’s “Our troopers are advancing in some areas of the entrance line, and the enemy is dropping tools and personnel,” Oleksandr Shirskyy informed Telegram.

President Zelensky additionally mentioned he had requested the pope to sentence Russia’s “crimes in Ukraine” as a result of “there could be no equality between victims and aggressors.”

“I additionally talked concerning the peace method as the one efficient algorithm for attaining simply peace,” Zelensky mentioned. Later, in an interview with Italian state tv, the Ukrainian chief mentioned the Pope “understands my place”. The conflict is being waged in Ukraine, so it should be Ukraine’s plan to deliver peace.

President Zelensky’s 10-point plan would create a particular tribunal to prosecute Russian conflict crimes. It is going to additionally create a European-Atlantic safety construction with ensures for Ukraine, restore Ukraine’s broken energy infrastructure, and guarantee safety round Europe’s largest nuclear energy plant in Zaporizhia.

Earlier within the day, President Zelensky acquired from Italian officers pledges of unrestricted army and monetary assist, in addition to sturdy assist for Ukraine’s aspiration to hitch the European Union.

“The message is evident and easy,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni mentioned after assembly with President Zelensky for greater than an hour. “The way forward for Ukraine is the way forward for peace and freedom. And it’s the way forward for Europe, the way forward for peace and freedom, and there’s no different doable answer.”

Meloni additionally mentioned Ukraine was making crucial reforms regardless of the conflict and renewed its pledge to defend Ukraine’s EU ambitions.

The prime minister, who’s a agency supporter of army assist to Ukraine, mentioned Italy would assist the nation “at any time when crucial and past”.

President Zelensky addressed Italian President Sergio Mattarella at the start of the official talks. “We’re in your facet all the best way,” Mattarella mentioned, welcoming Zelensky. Mattarella then promised his company that Italy would proceed to assist Ukraine militarily, financially, in addition to in reconstruction and humanitarian assist, in accordance with sources within the presidential palace.

For the reason that conflict started, Italy has contributed about €1 billion ($1.1 billion) in army, monetary and humanitarian assist.

President Zelensky is believed to be subsequent heading to Berlin, his first go to to Germany for the reason that begin of the conflict. Resulting from security considerations, the precise schedule has not been printed.

On the finish of April, Francis informed reporters that the Vatican was concerned in a behind-the-scenes peace operation, with out elaborating. Neither Russia nor Ukraine has confirmed such efforts.

He hopes the Papal Pilgrimage will promote the reason for peace and, if mixed with a go to to Moscow, would additionally like to go to Kiev, the Ukrainian capital.

In the meantime, Germany has introduced it is going to present Ukraine with further army assist price greater than €2.7 billion ($3 billion), together with tanks, anti-aircraft methods and ammunition.

Protection Minister Boris Pistorius mentioned Berlin desires to exhibit Germany’s “severe assist” for Ukraine with its newest weapons package deal.

“Germany will present all the required help,” he mentioned.

Different developments:

— Russian shelling on Saturday killed two civilians, together with a 15-year-old lady, and wounded 10 extra in Kostiantinivka, a metropolis lower than 30 kilometers west of Bakhmut, the native prosecutor’s workplace mentioned.

—Russian forces resumed shelling the Kharkov area in northeastern Ukraine on Friday and in a single day, killing a civilian, native governor Ole Sinievbov mentioned. Governor Pablo Kirilenko mentioned 4 civilians have been killed within the jap Donetsk area throughout the identical interval.

— The Ukrainian Power Ministry says in a single day Russian barrage broken power installations within the Khmelnytsky area of western Ukraine, however didn’t have an effect on energy provides.

Francis DeMiglio, Related Press

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Pope Francis Ukraine Ukrainian President

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) leaves his hotel on his way to a meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Saturday, May 13, 2023. President Zelensky is in Italy on the 1st and is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican. (AP Photo/Riccardo De Luca)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (right) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands before a meeting at the Palazzo Chigi, the government building in Rome, Saturday, May 13, 2023. President Zelensky is in Italy for a day trip and will meet with Pope Francis. at the Vatican. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)