Pope Francis on Sunday called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to stop the “vicious cycle of violence and death” in Ukraine.
He said: “The crisis there carries the risk of escalation of nuclear tensions with dire and uncontrollable consequences on a global scale.”
Addressing thousands of people in St. Peter’s Square, Francis called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to speak out against “serious peace proposals.”
Francis said he was making an urgent appeal “in the name of God” for an end to the conflict and that the risk of a nuclear conflict was “futile” for the world.
Francis defended the right of all countries to “sovereignty and territorial integrity” two days after announcing the annexation of nearly a fifth of Ukraine and placing its annexed territories under Russia’s nuclear umbrella.
Pope said: My request will first reach the President of the Russian Federation and I ask him to stop this cycle of violence and death because of his love for his people.
On the other hand, I deeply regret the immense suffering of the Ukrainian people following the aggression they have been subjected to, and I also request the President of Ukraine to accept serious peace proposals. ” he added.
Kyiv and its Western allies condemned Putin’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories, and Zelensky said his forces would continue their fight to retake all Ukrainian territory occupied by Russian forces.
Source: Lebanon Debate
