ROME — President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Saturday that any peace plan to resolve Russia’s war in Ukraine “must be Ukrainian” following a private meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. This remark indicates a potential difference in approach between the two leaders regarding the resolution of the ongoing conflict.
Zelensky is currently in Europe, gathering support from allies before a planned counteroffensive on the battlefield. He met with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, both of whom reaffirmed Italy’s support for Ukraine.
Despite divisions within her far-right ruling coalition and public opinion against sending weapons to Ukraine, Meloni has remained a strong supporter of Kyiv. Zelensky expressed his gratitude to Meloni for her support, and in a statement after meeting with the pope, he appreciated Francis’s personal attention to the plight of millions of Ukrainians.
In their first face-to-face meeting since Russia’s invasion, Zelensky and Francis met for 40 minutes on Saturday. While Francis has positioned himself as a mediator between Moscow and Kyiv, blaming both Russia and NATO for the war, Zelensky made it clear in an interview with Italy’s state broadcaster that any involvement of the Vatican in ending the war should be in support of Ukraine’s peace plan. Zelensky’s goal is the return of all Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia to Kyiv’s control.
Zelensky also discussed with the pope the deportation of thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia and urged him to condemn alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine, stating that there can be no equality between the victim and the aggressor.
The Vatican provided a more restrained account of the meeting, focusing on the pope’s constant prayers for an end to the war and the protection of innocent victims. However, a separate statement from the Holy See mentioned the need to continue efforts to achieve peace.
Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, Francis has frequently called for an end to the war, expressing solidarity with Ukrainians and recognizing their suffering. While he has sought a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin without success, the pope has sharpened his rhetoric during the course of the war. However, some Ukrainians have accused Francis of drawing false equivalences in his earlier remarks.
President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican
The Vatican’s potential role as a mediator in a region dominated by the Russian Orthodox Church has been questioned by analysts. Francis has appealed for a meeting with Putin and has advocated for serious peace proposals. However, the Russian Orthodox leader has supported Putin’s actions, creating a challenge for the pope’s efforts to reconcile the Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox churches.
The conflict in Ukraine complicates Francis’s broader project of reconciliation between the two churches. While the Vatican wishes to be involved in any peace negotiation, it acknowledges that it lacks the power to impose mediation. Instead, the Vatican remains open to facilitating discussions if key players choose to utilize its diplomatic channels.
