Volodimir Zelensky spoke with Pope Francis and thanked him for his prayers for his country

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Pope Francis for his “prayers” from the country since the Russian invasion that began on February 24, during a telephone conversation they had this Friday, Kiev reported.

In the conversation, spread by Zelensky on his Twitter account and not yet confirmed by the Vatican, the president informed the Pope about the “Russian aggression” against his country and the “horrible crimes” of the conflict, the agency reports.

The Ukrainian president thanked the pontiff “for his prayers for Ukraine,” he added in his tweet.

“Our people need the support of world spiritual leaders who must convey to the world the truth about the acts of horror committed by the aggressor”concluded.

The two heads of state had already spoken by telephone on February 26, two days after the start of the Russian invasion, in a conversation in which the pontiff expressed his “deep sorrow” for the attack.

This Friday’s dialogue took place as the Holy See continues to work on a possible visit by the Pope to Ukraine, however the pontiff himself recognized that it is “complicated” to think of a close journey.

This week, the Vatican has complained for the moment there is no “willingness” of Russia and Ukraine to accept mediation which allows “real peace negotiations” to be put on the table to end the war.

“Even today in the tragic Ukrainian affair, there seems to be no willingness at that moment to engage in real peace negotiations and to accept the offer of mediation”, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, secretary of state and “number two” of the Vatican. in an interview with Limes magazine.

The Italian cardinal added: “As is evident, it is not enough for one of the parties to propose or hypothesize it unilaterally, but it is essential that both express their will in this regard”.

Last Saturday, Francis also received the Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See, Andrey Yurash, one of the main promoters of the now difficult Pope’s visit to Kyiv.

For his part, the Ukrainian ambassador to the Holy See, Andrii Yurash, wrote on Twitter this Friday that, since the beginning of the war, Pope Francis and the president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, had their third telephone conversation.

“Appreciating the prayers and humanitarian support, Ukraine confirms again: the Ukrainian state and society will be happy to greet the Holy Father. The papal touch on the suffering land can help stop the war and create peace,” added Yurash .

With information from Telam

DB