Pope’s envoy said there was no plan to start talks on Ukraine

The Vatican does not yet have a plan that could facilitate the start of negotiations on Ukraine. This was announced by the Pope’s envoy for the Ukrainian settlement, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi.

“Under the leadership of Pope Francis and with him in the coming days, we will reflect on what we have heard [в Москве]. That is why we do not yet have a plan that could facilitate the start of negotiations. We are interested in resolving the humanitarian issue and protecting the lives of innocent people,” he said (quote by Il Resto del Carlino).

He clarified that the Vatican “has neither a peace plan nor mediation”, but “there is a great desire for the violence to stop.”

Cardinal Zuppi visited Moscow on June 28-29. The purpose of his visit was “to encourage gestures of humanity that can contribute to resolving the current tragic situation and finding ways to achieve a just peace,” the Vatican explained.

Zuppi met twice with Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov. On June 28, the parties exchanged views on humanitarian issues, no specific agreements were reached, informed Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov. June 30 Ushakov discussed with Zuppi the results of the cardinal’s visit to Moscow.

In addition, during the trip to Russia, the envoy of the Pope was received by the Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ Kirill, and also discussed specific issues with the Commissioner for Children’s Rights Maria Lvova-Belova.

Prior to this, Zuppi visited Ukraine. On June 6, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he had discussed humanitarian cooperation with the envoy as part of the implementation of the Ukrainian “peace formula”. At a meeting with Zuppi, the Ukrainian leader said that a ceasefire and freezing of the conflict would not lead to peace.