The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, Telephone on Friday to the Vatican Secretary of StatePietro Parolin, and asked for his support to free prisoners in Russia, which would mean a first step towards peace.
The Ukrainian president spoke with the cardinal because Pope Francis has been hospitalized for 29 days for their health problems, so He wished him a prompt recovery and thanked him for his “moral support” and his efforts for the return of Ukrainian children “deported and illegally displaced to Russia,” he explained in X.
The Holy See confirmed that the telephone conversation between Zelenski and the Cardinal Secretary of State It took place this Friday and talked about the situation of the war and of the proposal of a truce after more than three years of conflict.
But “especially,” according to Vatican sources, the parties talked about the return to Ukraine of children deported in Russiaabout which pontifical diplomacy has been very interested in these years.
For his part, Zelenski reported that the Holy See He has received a list of Ukrainians retained in “Russian prisons and fields.”
“We have your support for your release. The exchange of prisoners and a high unconditional provisional fire of 30 days They are the first fast steps that could significantly approach a fair and lasting peace“, He claimed, in the midst of the truce proposal formulated by the United States.
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 SUPPOR FOR OUR PEOPLE, AS well as for his efforts in facilitating the return of ukrainian Children Illegally sport … pic.twitter.com/cyw1tivSwd
– Volodymyr Zelenskyy / володимир зеленсьий (@zelenskyyua) March 14, 2025