A top Holy See official suggested earlier that Zelensky’s ‘peace formula’ was not enough
Moscow has praised the Vatican’s call for Russia to be involved in the Ukraine peace talks and its concern that Kiev’s ‘peace formula’ is not enough to bring peace. In a statement on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova expressed hope that Kiev will listen.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, toured Ukraine last week and met with the country’s leadership. Following the visit, the Italian media quoted Parolin as lamenting that “a negotiated solution” was “still far,” and stressed the importance of Russia’s participation in the peace process.
The Holy See representative also admitted that Kiev’s ‘peace formula’ was “not enough.”
“I hope that other formulas can be found that allow some glimmer of hope,” Paroling said, adding that “Russia cannot not be at the [negotiating] tables.”
Commenting on the statements on Thursday, Zakharova praised the Vatican’s “neutral and balanced” position on the conflict.
“Parolin voiced what was obvious to any sensible person from the outset, [namely that] it is impossible to achieve a long-term and just peace without taking Moscow and its opinion into account,” Zakharova said.
“We can only hope that the Cardinal’s arguments have been heard,” she added.
The “peace formula” is a list of Zelensky’s demands which were first revealed in November 2022, that include, among other things, Russia’s withdrawal from all territories Ukraine claims as its own. Moscow has rejected it as delusional.
Kiev’s plan was the focus of an international conference in Switzerland last month, which Russia was not invited to. In an interview on Wednesday, Zelensky said that Russia should attend the next international peace summit scheduled for November, because “the whole world” wants it to be at the table.
Russia has repeatedly stated that it is open to dialogue on ending the conflict, but that it is reluctant to trust Ukraine’s claims that it is also ready for negotiations. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said last week that Kiev is known to have flip-flopped on the issue.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said recently that numerous issues – including Zelensky’s legitimacy as head of state and Western interference – need to be resolved in order for any substantive conversation to begin. Zelensky’s presidential term ended in May and elections were not held due to martial law.
Zelensky signed a presidential decree in the fall of 2022 which barred all talks with the current leadership in Moscow.
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