Vatican: We hope that Ukraine-Russia сeasefire talks will bring peace

Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Photo: katholisch

On March 17, 2025, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed hope that ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia will lead to a just and lasting peace, writes Vatican news.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Ramadan Iftar event, organized by the Embassy of Morocco to the Holy See, Cardinal Parolin answered a question about the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

He noted that Russia apparently put forward certain conditions, “particularly regarding the verification of compliance with the ceasefire regime.”

Cardinal Parolin expressed the Holy See's support for these negotiations and the hope that they will lead to further steps that can "bring an end to the war and establish the just and lasting peace for which we have long hoped."

"Since Ukraine has finally expressed its willingness, we hope that there will also be willingness from the other side to initiate this ceasefire," the Vatican representative noted.

Asked about recent plans to rearm Europe, the cardinal was critical of the Vatican. “When rearmament takes place, sooner or later, the weapons must be used, right?” he said, recalling that the Holy See has been calling for “general and controlled disarmament” since World War I, so “we cannot be pleased with the direction things are taking.”

Earlier, the Union of Orthodox Journalists wrote that Zelensky is counting on the Vatican’s assistance in exchanging prisoners.

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