Pope Leo XIV. called for an immediate end to the war in Ukraine, stressing that peace is an “urgent necessity”. He addressed his appeal to the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, just two days before the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Peace cannot be postponed. It is an urgent need that must find a place in hearts and manifest itself in responsible decisions,” the Pope said in his speech.
- Pope Leo XIV. called for an immediate end to the war.
- He emphasized that peace is an essential and urgent need.
- The war in Ukraine has been going on for four years.
- Russia controls part of Ukraine, including most of Donbas.
- The negotiations have not yet brought significant progress towards peace.
At the same time, he called for an immediate ceasefire, the cessation of bombing and the strengthening of dialogue between the parties to the conflict. “Let the guns fall silent, let the bombings stop, let a cease-fire be reached without delay and let the dialogue be strengthened to open the way to peace,” he emphasized. The Pope also recalled the enormous human suffering caused by the war, calling it a “wound for all humanity”.
Four years of war
On Tuesday, Ukraine will mark the fourth anniversary of the beginning of the Russian invasion, which began on February 24, 2022. The conflict has destroyed many Ukrainian cities, driven millions from their homes and caused a huge loss of life on both sides. Russia currently controls about a fifth of Ukraine’s territory and continues its offensive despite heavy losses and Ukrainian counterattacks.
The United States, which plays a key role in diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, has brokered several rounds of talks between Ukraine, Russia and the US in recent weeks. Despite these efforts, however, no significant progress has yet been made.
Disputed Donbas
One of the main points of disagreement between Moscow and Kyiv remains the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Russia claims all of Donbas, currently controlling about 90 percent of its territory. However, Ukraine strongly rejects these claims. At the same time, Moscow has warned that if the negotiations fail, it plans to take over the rest of the region by military force.
The Pope’s appeal for peace comes at a time when the world community is trying to find a solution to this protracted conflict, which has far-reaching consequences not only for Ukraine, but also for international stability.
