Ukrainian authorities say they know nothing about the Vatican's "secret peacekeeping" mission to end the war
US officials say they are aware of the mission but will not comment
The Ukrainian authorities "know nothing" about a peacekeeping mission involving the Vatican aimed at ending Russia's war against Ukraine.
Source. An official close to the Office of the President of Ukraine told CNN.
"President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not agree to such discussions on behalf of Ukraine. If negotiations are underway, it is without our knowledge or blessing," he emphasized.
Recently, Pope Francis said that the Vatican is involved in a peacekeeping mission to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
He said that he had discussed the situation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the representative of the Russian Orthodox Church in Budapest, Metropolitan Hilarion, who is under Ukrainian sanctions.
"The mission is underway, but it is not public yet," Francis said after the trip, promising to reveal details later.
White House press secretary Karin Jean-Pierre said that the United States is aware of the pontiff's peace initiatives.
"We are aware. I just have no comment on that," she said.
Last week, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with the head of the Holy See in the Vatican, discussed Zelenskyy's "peace formula" with him, and invited the pontiff to visit Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government also asked Francis to help bring home Ukrainians and their children who are being forcibly detained in Russia.
After the war broke out, the Pope wanted to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and try to stop the bloodshed, but Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov refused. Subsequently, the pontiff repeatedly called on both sides to hold peace talks.
In November, Francis compared the war in Ukraine to the Holodomor of the 1930s, which he called genocide. This comment was a sharp condemnation of the Russian invasion. Prior to that, the pontiff had sympathized with the suffering of Ukrainians, but had generally avoided direct accusations against Russia.
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