VATICAN (CNS): Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said he spoke with Pietro Cardinal Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, even as the government of United States’ president, Donald Trump, attempted to broker a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine.
In a long March 14 post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Ukrainian leader said that during the conversation with Cardinal Parolin, “I wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery and thanked him for his prayers and moral support for our people, as well as for his efforts in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported and displaced by Russia.”
Zelenskyy wrote that “the Holy See has received a list of Ukrainians being held in Russian prisons and camps. We are counting on support for their release.”
Topics included the pope’s health, the situation in Ukraine, the possibility of a ceasefire and the return of children taken from Ukraine into Russia, it said.
Pope Francis confirmed in April 2023 that the Holy See had acted as an intermediary in several prisoner exchange negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Matteo Cardinal Zuppi of Bologna was appointed by the pope to serve as his peace envoy for Ukraine and has been working to secure the return of thousands of Ukrainian children taken into Russia.
“The Ukrainian people want peace more than anyone,” Zelenskyy wrote in his post after speaking with Cardinal Parolin. “Meanwhile, the world sees how Russia is deliberately setting conditions that only complicate and drag out the process, as Russia is the only party that wants the war to continue and diplomacy to break down.”
Putin, at a news conference March 13, said he also wanted a ceasefire, but he said the agreement would need to include: the surrender of Ukrainian forces in Russian territory, guarantees that Ukraine would not use the ceasefire period to remobilise and some form of monitoring of the agreement.
Zelenskyy expressed his hope on X that the Vatican could help move the process forward.
“The voice of the Holy See is very important on the path to peace. I am grateful for the readiness to make efforts towards our shared goal,” he wrote. “Thank you for your prayers for Ukraine and for peace.”
