Pope Leo XIV He said this Tuesday that any agreement to end the War in Ukraine must have the active participation of Europe and warned that excluding the continent from the negotiations endangers the stability of the transatlantic alliance.
The head of the Catholic Church’s comments coincide with the sharpening of differences between them Washington and major European capitals on the strategy to resolve the conflict that began after the Russian invasion.
“Aiming for a peace agreement without including Europe in the talks is unrealistic. The war is raging in Europe and I believe that Europe must be involved in the security guarantees that are sought today and in the future” said the Pope, who also holds American and Peruvian nationality.
The pope’s words come hours after a private meeting with the Ukrainian president at Castel Gandolfo Volodymyr Zelenskywho continues his international tour to rally support for the Kiev cause.
The Pope was reacting to the American President’s recent messages Donald Trumpwhose proposals to resolve the conflict have sparked skepticism and concern in Brussels, Paris, Berlin and other European capitals.
Trump has proposed a plan, according to several administrations European UnionKyiv could be put under pressure cede part of its territory to Russia to facilitate the signing of a ceasefire.
Leo XIV told the press that he had not read the American president’s entire proposal, but expressed concerns about the scope of some of its points.
“Unfortunately, some of the pieces I saw represent a major change in what was, for many, many years, a true alliance between Europe and the United States“, he remarked.
According to the Pope, Trump’s recent statements and certain fragments of his plan appear likely to cause a divide between both sides of the Atlantic.
“I believe that the statements that have been made about Europe, including in recent interviews, are aimed at destroying what I believe to be a very important alliance today and in the future” said.
In an interview with the American media Politically Trump described Europe as a group of countries in “decline” and criticized its response to it Migration crisis and the Ukraine conflict.
Pope Leo XIV, on the other hand, defended the value of unity within the continent and saw this as a strategic moment to strengthen the role of Europe. “I believe that the role of Europe is very important and that the unity of European countries is really important, especially in this case.“, he explained.
The Pope pointed out that while not all international actors understand the need for effective European engagement, there is a great opportunity for European leaders to come together and develop common solutions for the continent’s security and political future.
He also recalled that since the war is taking place on European territory, security guarantees and commitments must necessarily involve European states as protagonists of any negotiation process.
Pope Leo XIV’s position reflects the concerns of several European governments about a roadmap that could overshadow Europe’s interests and voice. The Pope’s words add weight to the debate over the scope and terms of a peace agreement to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
(With information from EFE)
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