Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday as he continues his tour of Europe to bolster support for a “victory plan”.
During his conversation with the head of the Catholic Church, Zelenskyy and Francis reportedly discussed the state of the war, the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and well as how it could be brought to an end.
Zelenskyy has been city-hopping across the continent to promote a proposal which he says “aims to create the right conditions for a just end to the war” against Russia.
Since the first Russian attack on Kyiv, Francis and Zelenskyy have made multiple visits, letters and phone calls to each other.
Francis has repeatedly and strongly called for an end to the war in Ukraine, focusing on prisoner exchanges and on reaching a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
The Pope drew some criticism from Ukrainian leaders in March when he suggested they should have the “courage of the white flag” and consider a negotiated end to the war with Russia, an notion interpreted by many as a call to surrender.
Rounding up support
A day before meeting the Pope, he had detailed the plan’s proposals to European allies after a planned summit including US President Joe Biden was derailed by Hurricane Milton.
He met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in London on Thursday before heading to France for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who signalled his support by visiting Ukrainian troops being trained in France.
Zelenskyy also met with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, who ensured Italy’s full and continued support to put Ukraine in a position to build lasting peace.
The Ukrainian leader has yet to publicly present his proposals for victory, but the timing of his efforts to lock in European support appeared to have November’s US presidential election in mind.
Former President Donald Trump, who could return to the White House next year, has long been critical of US aid to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy had planned to present his blueprint at a weekend meeting of Western leaders in Germany, but it was postponed after sitting President Joe Biden stayed in the US to respond to Hurricane Milton, which has wreaked havoc in Florida.