Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that Russian attempts to set conditions for a 30-day ceasefire in its war against his country only "complicate and prolong the process", Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
“Russia is the only country that wants the war to continue and diplomacy to fail“, Zelensky wrote on the social network “Ex“ after a telephone conversation with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin regarding Pope Francis' efforts to achieve the return to Ukraine of Ukrainian children taken to Russia, as well as the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war.
“I wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery and thanked him for his prayers and moral support for our people, as well as for his efforts in facilitating the return to Ukraine of Ukrainian children illegally deported to Russia“, he said in “Ex“, quoted by the Italian news agency ANSA.
I spoke with the Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. I wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery and thanked him for his prayers and moral support for our people, as well as for his efforts in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported… pic.twitter.com/Cyw1TIvsWd
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 14, 2025
“The Holy See has received a list of Ukrainians detained in Russian prisons and camps. We count on support for their release“, the Ukrainian president added.