Zelensky calls on Pope to help repatriate Ukrainian children

President Zelensky asked Pope Francis to help repatriate Ukrainian children evacuated to Russia during his visit to the Vatican.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Italy and the Vatican on May 13 in his first trip to both countries since the conflict broke out early last year. President Zelensky held a closed-door conversation with Pope Francis for about 40 minutes and presented him with a bulletproof vest once used by a Ukrainian soldier.

The Vatican later issued a statement saying the Pope and President Zelensky discussed “humanitarian steps.” The unnamed source said the two sides discussed the possibility of the Vatican helping to repatriate Ukrainian children evacuated from war zones to Russia.

Pope Francis met with President Zelensky at the Vatican on May 13. Photo: Reuters

"We must do everything to bring our children home. I also ask the Pope to condemn what Russia is doing in Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on Twitter after the meeting. The Ukrainian president also called on Pope Francis to join a 10-point plan, which includes restoring Ukraine's territorial integrity, demanding the withdrawal of Russian forces and an end to the fighting.

Mr Zelensky earlier met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who pledged to maintain military and financial support for Ukraine, as well as support for Kiev's efforts to join the European Union (EU). "There can be no peace through unconditional surrender. That would be a dangerous precedent," Ms Meloni said.

Pope Francis adopted a balanced approach in the early stages of the war, hoping to act as a mediator in the conflict. However, he has repeatedly condemned Russia’s campaign in Ukraine and has called for peace almost weekly, without any breakthrough.

In late April, the Pope announced that the Vatican was conducting a secret mediation mission to end the conflict in Ukraine. Russian officials said they had no information about such a mission, while President Zelensky appeared to reject the mediation effort and said he would not negotiate with Kiev’s 10-point plan.

Vu Anh (According to Reuters )

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