Ukraine sees Putin’s call with the Pope as a sign of Russia’s weakness

Andriy Yurash and Pope Leo. Photo: Facebook page of Andriy Yurash

Ukrainian Ambassador to the Vatican, Andriy Yurash, interpreted Putin’s phone call with the pontiff as a sign of Russia’s weakening. Yurash shared his thoughts on Facebook.

According to him, during the pontificate of Pope Francis – who was often described as pro-Russian – Putin refused to engage in dialogue with the pope. Yet now, the Russian president has “suddenly expressed a desire to communicate with Pope Leo, who holds a more clearly pro-Ukrainian position.”

In Yurash’s view, this can mean only one thing: “the weakening of Russia’s position and a search for new sources of support and backing.”

The ambassador also noted that Putin spoke with the pontiff after former U.S. President Donald Trump, which he believes “clearly indicates” that the American leader is consistently encouraging Putin to consider the Vatican as a platform for negotiations.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Ukraine’s Presidential Office ruled out the Vatican’s role as a mediator with Russia due to Pope Francis’s perceived pro-Russian stance.

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