Pope Francis has revealed that during a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, he was told that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to end his invasion of Ukraine next week.
“When I met Orban, he told me that the Russians have a precise plan and that the war will end on May 9,” the pope told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in an interview published on Tuesday.
May 9th is Russia’s Victory Day, celebrating the victory over Nazi Germany at the end of World War II.
“I hope so. That would explain the speed of military operations in recent days,” he continued, noting that Russia has focused on taking the Black Sea ports from Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin on April 27.EPA
“I have a bad feeling about all this, I’ll admit,” Francis said. “I’m very pessimistic. However, it is our duty to do everything possible to end the war.”
The Pope met with Orban on April 21.
During the interview, Francis stressed his desire to meet with Putin and said he had to travel to Moscow before visiting Kyiv – where he had sent a Vatican official.
“First I have to go to Moscow, I want to meet Putin first,” he said. “But in the end I’m just a priest, what can I achieve? i will do what i can If Putin decides to leave the door open.”
Pro-Russian troops fire a BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher system in Ukraine.REUTERS
Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine on February 24, causing more than 5.5 million people to evacuate the country. The non-stop fighting, bombing and shelling across the country has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians and soldiers.
Many foreign leaders, including President Biden, have accused the Russian president of committing war crimes after attacks appeared to have aimed exclusively at civilian areas.
Even Pope Francis has compared the atrocities to the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.
People walk their bicycles across the street as smoke billows over the Azovstal Iron and Steel Works plant in Mariupol, Ukraine.REUTERS
Pope Francis compared the Ukraine war to the Rwanda genocide.via REUTERS
“We have not received any response, but we are pressing them further on this matter,” the pope said of his hope for a meeting. “But I fear that Putin cannot or will not agree to our meeting at the moment.”
“But how can you not try to do whatever it takes to stop the atrocities? We saw something similar in Rwanda 25 years ago.”
In recent weeks, Russian forces have shifted their focus to eastern Ukraine after failing to take the capital, Kyiv, and other key central cities. Ukrainian troops have established strong defenses in the eastern regions, preventing Russia from seizing more strategic locations.
It’s unclear whether Putin will scale back the invasion any further, as other reports have suggested he may officially declare war on Ukraine.