Pope Leo XIV, speaking today in "St. Peter" Square for "martyr Ukraine", welcomed the country's President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska to their first private audience, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
""Thank you for your patience while you waited, I had to greet all the delegations" who attended the enthronement, the pope said in a video released by the Vatican after their visit, during which the two countries exchanged gifts.
At the end of the ceremony marking his inauguration, Leo XIV said: "Ukraine is waiting for negotiations to finally take place for a lasting and just peace".
The Ukrainian president wrote in a post on "Telegram" that he was "grateful for the special words" of the pope.
"Every country deserves to live in peace and security", he said, adding that "prayers for a just peace and a dignified life for all must be heard".
Pope Leo XIV's predecessor, Pope Francis, tirelessly called for peace in Ukraine, but without achieving concrete results, AFP notes.
Before the enthronement, Zelensky shook hands with US Vice President J.D. Vance, whom he had not seen since their meeting at the White House in February.
Last night, Russia carried out drone attacks on a number of areas in Ukraine, including the capital Kiev, two days after the first peace talks of 2022, which were held in Istanbul and did not result in a ceasefire.
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Май 18, 2025 19:45 144