Pope Leo XIV calls for just, lasting peace in Ukraine

ROME/WASHINGTON. May 12 (Interfax) - Pope Leo XIV said in his first Sunday sermon that Ukraine needs a just and sustainable peace agreement.

"Let everything possible be done to achieve genuine, just and lasting peace as soon as possible," the Associated Press quoted the pontiff as saying.

He said that the world was experiencing a large number of armed conflicts and described this situation as a "third world war in pieces."

Leo XIV called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave's population.

He welcomed the truce agreement between India and Pakistan.

Vatican News said on Monday that Pope Leo XIV and Ukraine's President Zelensky have spoken by phone, according to the Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Kiev should agree to talks with Russia in Turkey immediately.

"President Putin of Russia doesn't want to have a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, but rather wants to meet on Thursday, in Turkey, to negotiate a possible end to the bloodbath. Ukraine should agree to this immediately," Trump said on the Truth Social network.

"At least they will be able to determine whether or not a deal is possible," he said.

"And if it is not, European leaders, and the U.S., will know where everything stands, and can proceed accordingly," Trump said.

He added that he was not sure that Kiev would be able to make a deal with Moscow.

"I'm starting to doubt that Ukraine will make a deal with Putin, who's too busy celebrating the Victory of World War II, which could not have been won [...] without the United States of America," Trump said.

"Have the meeting, now," he said in conclusion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier made a proposal to resume direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul on May 15. "We're proposing to start without delay as early as the next Thursday, May 15, in Istanbul. Where they took place earlier and where they were interrupted," Putin told reporters in the Kremlin.