The First Deputy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada held talks with the Vatican Secretary

First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Kornienko visited the Vatican, where he met with Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States. The main purpose of the talks was to discuss the humanitarian aspects of the Russian-Ukrainian war, including the release of detainees and the promotion of peace initiatives.

During the dialogue, the parties paid special attention to developing effective mechanisms for the repatriation of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilians, as well as the return of deported children. The Ukrainian side expressed gratitude for the mediation mission of the Pope’s Special Envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, and called on the Holy See to continue its active efforts in this regard.

In addition to humanitarian issues, the meeting participants discussed the Vatican’s involvement in international efforts to implement peace initiatives and support Ukraine on global platforms. The parties reaffirmed their intention to develop bilateral dialogue and coordinate steps aimed at overcoming the humanitarian crisis.

As a reminder, a hierarch of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) in Ukraine, Bishop Vitaliy Kryvitsky of Kyiv-Zhytomyr, , sharply criticized government measures to seize the property of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.