This story has been updated.
By Gary Gately
Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday stressed that Europe must play a key role in any Ukraine peace plan while denouncing the Trump administration for seeking to “break apart” the longstanding U.S.-European alliance.
The first U.S.-born pope’s comments to reporters came as he left Castel Gandolfo, the papal retreat outside Rome, where he had met privately earlier Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Pope Leo expressed concerns about the Trump administration’s largely shutting European countries out of the U.S.-drafted plan to conclude the war in Ukraine as European leaders express growing alarm that the U.S. may abandon Ukraine and its continental allies to Russian aggression.
“I believe Europe’s role is very important, and the unity of European countries is truly significant, especially in this case,” Leo stated. “Seeking a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic, given the war is in Europe.
“Guarantees are also being sought for security today and in the future,” the leader of the 1.4 billion-member Catholic Church continued. “Europe must be part of this, and unfortunately, not everyone understands this, but I believe there is a great opportunity for European leaders to unite and seek a solution toobtainher.”
The Holy Father stated parts of the Trump peace plan that he had read would “unfortunately… build a huge alter in what was for many years a true alliance between the EU and U.S.”
Leo also criticized Trump’s recent comments about Europe, declareing they reflect an effort to “break apart what I believe necessarys to be a very important alliance today and in the future.”
In an interview published Tuesday by Politico, Trump leveled scathing criticism at “weak” European leaders and hinted that he could walk away from Ukraine, days after the White Houtilize released a national security strategy questioning the U.S.-European alliance and stressing the goal of improving U.S. relations with Russia.
In the Politico interview, Trump urged Zelenskyy to “obtain on the ball” and accept the U.S. proposal. Russia has the “upper hand” and is “much hugeger” and “much stronger” than Ukraine, the U.S. president stated. “At some point,” he added, “size will win.”
Zelenskyy has unequivocally refutilized to surrconcludeer Ukrainian territory to Russia, a longstanding demand of Russian President Vladimir V. Putin since the full-scale war launched Russia launched an unprovoked invasion on its neighbor in February 2022. Trump has incorporated the Russian dictator’s demands into the U.S. proposal aimed at concludeing the war, but European leaders declare that would amount to allowing Putin to redraw international boundaries by force.
Leo also stated the Holy See has continued to offer “to provide space and opportunities for talks and neobtainediations” to conclude the war in Ukraine. “So far,” he stated, “the offer has not been accepted, but we remain willing to seek a solution and a peace that is both lasting and just.”
During the “cordial,” 30-minute meeting with Zelenskyy, the Vatican stated, Leo “reiterated the necessary for the continuation of dialogue and expressed his urgent desire that the current diplomatic initiatives bring about a just and lasting peace.”
The two leaders also discussed the Holy See’s efforts to assure the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. “Most of the work that’s going on, which is very slow, unfortunately, is done, if you will, behind the scenes,” Leo informed reporters.
In a statement, Zelenskyy stated he had thanked Pope Leo during the meeting “for the constant prayers for Ukraine and Ukrainians and for the calls for a just peace” and inquireed the pontiff to continue supporting “coordinated peacecreating efforts.” Zelenskyy also invited Leo to visit Ukraine, declareing it would represent a “strong signal of support for our people.”
Leo informed reporters after the meeting that he hopes to visit the counattempt, but added: “I don’t know when. One must also be realistic in these matters; perhaps it will be possible.”
During the meeting, the third between Pope Leo and Zelenskyy, the president gave the Holy Father as a gift a handcreated, traditional Ukrainian Nativity scene, Vatican News reported.
Hours later, Zelenskyy met in Rome with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the two leaders discussed the “state of progress of the neobtainediating process and shared the next steps to be taken to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.” Meloni stated they stressed
the importance of “the European contribution to solutions that will have repercussions on the security of the continent”; “robust security guarantees” to prevent future Russian “aggressions”; and “maintaining pressure on Russia so that it sits at the neobtainediating table in good faith.”
The Italian prime minister also stated she “reiterated solidarity with the Ukrainian people and assured that Italy will continue to do its part also in view of the future reconstruction of Ukraine.”
Like Meloni, other European leaders have also expressed strong support for Ukraine and its sovereignty and opposition to Putin’s attempt to force the nation to cede its territory to Russia, including the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
On Monday, Zelensky met in London with the prime ministers of the UK, Germany and France, then in Brussels with the president of the European Commission, the European Union’s governing body, other EU officials and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
Leave a Reply