President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, where the key topic of discussion was the return of Ukrainian children who were illegally taken by the Russian Federation. The negotiations took place on December 9 and covered a wide range of humanitarian and diplomatic issues related to the war in Ukraine.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Support for Ukrainian Children and Peace Initiatives
During the audience, Zelensky thanked the pontiff for his unwavering support for Ukraine and his “calls for a just peace.” He specifically emphasized the pope’s efforts to protect the rights of Ukrainian children who have become victims of forced deportation by Russia.
“I informed the Pope about the diplomatic work with the USA to achieve peace. We discussed further efforts and the Vatican’s mediation for the return of our children who were abducted by Russia,” he stated.
The head of state also invited the Pope to visit Ukraine, emphasizing that such a visit would serve as a “strong signal of support for our people.”
Diplomacy and the Issue of Prisoners of War
According to VaticanNews, current issues of the war, diplomatic initiatives, and ways to return prisoners of war and children deported to Russia were discussed during the meeting. The pontiff stressed the importance of continuing dialogue and expressed hope that international efforts would contribute to establishing a just and lasting peace.
It is known that Zelensky arrived in Rome on the morning of December 9. In addition to the meeting with Leo XIV, his agenda includes talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.