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Pope Leo XIV has made a direct plea for peace with Ukraine to Russian President Vladimir Putin of their first name because the American pontiff took up the best seat within the Catholic Church final month.
Following the decision on Wednesday, the Vatican mentioned the pope emphasised the “significance of dialogue” although it’s unclear if he inspired Putin to interact in direct discussions together with his Ukrainian counterpart, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which the Kremlin chief has to date refused to do.
Whereas the pair additionally mentioned humanitarian points, prisoner exchanges and help, Putin additionally apparently accused Kyiv of “escalating” the warfare through the telephone name.
An explosion is seen Tuesday, June 3, alongside the Kerch Bridge linking Russia and Crimea. (APTN/Ukrainian Safety Service)
UKRAINE TARGETS BRIDGE LINKING RUSSIA TO CRIMEA WITH MASSIVE UNDERWATER BLAST, VIDEO SHOWS
Putin apparently advised the pope “that the Kyiv regime is banking on escalating the battle and is finishing up sabotage in opposition to civilian infrastructure websites on Russian territory.”
The declare was in reference to a current assault on the Kerch Bridge this week, which hyperlinks Crimea, the Ukrainian territory illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, and Russia.
Pope Leo XIV celebrates Mass through the formal inauguration of his hold forth in St. Peter’s Sq., Sunday, Might 18, 2025. (Alessandra Tarantino)
The assault got here after an enormous drone operation focused Russia’s army advanced and destroyed dozens of warplanes able to deploying cruise missiles.
A rescuer works at a web site of a Russian drone strike in Dnipro, Ukraine, in an image launched on April 30. (Governor of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Army Civil Administration Serhiy Lysak by way of Telegram/Handout by way of Reuters)
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The assault reportedly prompted Putin to query the worth of peace talks, although the Kremlin has already been accused of failing to take part in ceasefire makes an attempt in good religion because it continues to pound Ukrainian cities with drone and missile strikes.
In a readout of the decision, the Kremlin additionally apparently known as on the Vatican to “take a extra energetic function” in advocating for spiritual freedoms in Ukraine on the subject of members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, which has historic hyperlinks to Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends Orthodox Easter Mass on the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on April 24, 2022, in Moscow. (Getty Photographs)
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Legal proceedings have been levied by Ukrainian authorities in opposition to clergy members over suspected sympathies for Moscow.
Ukraine’s international ministry in April additionally accused Russia of spiritual oppression in occupied territories, the place lots of of church buildings have been destroyed, and a few 67 clergy members killed because the begin of the warfare.
