Pope Urges Continued Dialogue in Meeting With Zelensky
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Pope Leo XIV underscored the need to press ahead with dialogue aimed at ending the war in Ukraine during talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday at the papal residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside Rome, the Vatican said.
“During the cordial talks, which focused on the war in Ukraine, the Holy Father reiterated the need for the continuation of dialogue and expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace,” the Holy See stated. The discussion also covered the situation of prisoners of war and the need to ensure the return of Ukrainian children to their families.
Zelensky is due to meet Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni later on Tuesday at her office in Rome.
The visit comes at a particularly difficult moment for the Ukrainian leader, following criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who accused him of not having read the American plan to end the conflict with Russia.
On Monday, Zelensky secured backing from other allies during a meeting in London with the leaders of Britain, France and Germany, followed by talks in Brussels with the heads of the EU and NATO.
