Pope Francis believes Ukraine-Russia talks on Donbas a positive step

In-flight press conference. Photo: Vatican Media

Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia to resolve the situation in Donbas are a positive step, said Pope Francis during the in-flight press conference on November 26, according to Vatican News.

“There are issues regarding international equilibrium which I cannot judge now,” said the Roman pontiff. “But everything that can be done to stop the production of weapons, stop wars, and encourage negotiations with the help of intermediaries must always be done, and this gives its results.”

Citing the negotiations between Ukraine and Russia as an example, Pope Francis recalled that in this case "it was not about arms but about the exchange of prisoners, and that was positive."

“Donbas is coming up with another regime of self-government. Negotiations are underway. This is a positive step,” added the head of the RCC.

At the same time, he emphasized that the defense of states “should take place through diplomacy, mediation”, while the defense with the use of weapons is the last thing to be resorted to only in extreme cases.

As reported by the UOJ, Pope Francis sent a welcome telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he assured of his prayers for him and for the entire Russian nation.

We will remind, earlier the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, said that it is very dangerous to talk about the need to end the war in Ukraine at all costs.

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