Zelensky to the Pope: Ukraine does not need mediators for negotiations

Zelenskyy on the air of RAI. Photo: news-kiev.ru

On 13 May 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, commenting on the Vatican's initiatives to settle the military conflict in Ukraine, said that Ukraine does not need mediators for negotiations.

Zelenskyy said this on a programme on the RAI state television channel, hosted by well-known TV presenter Bruno Vespa.

"With all due respect to His Holiness, we do not need mediators, we need a just peace," he said

According to Zelensky, the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine should be built only around the Ukrainian peace formula.

When asked by Vespa whether he would be ready to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin if necessary, Zelensky said that there was "nothing to talk about" with the Russian leader.

Earlier, Pope Francis and high-ranking Vatican hierarchs have repeatedly said that they were ready to be mediators in the Ukrainian settlement.

As reported, the RCC head presented Zelensky with a sculpture in the form of a peace symbol.

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