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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Francis at the G7 summit in Italy.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Francis on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy on June 14, discussing key issues including the establishment of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Francis on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy on June 14. The meeting marked the second time the two leaders have met, following their initial encounter in May 2023 at the Vatican. During their previous meeting, they spoke for over half an hour, discussing various topics related to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Why This Matters: The recent meeting saw Zelensky and Pope Francis engage in discussions on several critical issues, including the establishment of a just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The Ukrainian President also raised the issue of the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, a topic of great concern for the Ukrainian people.
Zelensky expressed his gratitude to the Pope "for his prayers for peace in Ukraine, spiritual closeness to our people, and humanitarian aid to Ukrainians." The Ukrainian President also informed the Pope about the consequences of Russian aggression, its air terror, and the difficult energy situation in Ukraine.
The meeting also touched on the role of the Holy See in establishing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. Zelensky discussed his expectations of the upcoming peace summit in Switzerland, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in resolving the conflict.
Pope Francis has faced criticism in the past for his stance on the conflict in Ukraine. In March, leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO General Jens Stoltenberg criticized the Pope for calling on Ukraine to "not be ashamed to negotiate" with Russia. The Pope's comments were seen as overly conciliatory towards Russia, and sparked a wave of controversy.
Key Takeaways:
- Zelensky meets Pope Francis at G7 summit in Italy.
- Discussions focus on establishing a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
- Return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia a key topic.
- Zelensky thanks Pope for prayers, spiritual closeness, and humanitarian aid.
- Pope Francis criticized for calling on Ukraine to negotiate with Russia.