Papa Leo s papinskog je zrakoplova, na povratku iz Turske i Libanona, pojačano apelirao na europsku uključenost u američke napore za okončanje rata u Ukrajini te naglasio da bi Italija mogla odigrati ulogu posrednika.
„It is clear that, on the one hand, the president of the United States is thinking he can promote a peace plan that he would like to carry out and that, at least at first, is without Europe. But Europe’s presence is important, and that first proposal was also modified because of what Europe was saying”, rekao je Leo.
Dodao je kako „specifically, I think Italy’s role could be very important. Culturally and historically, Italy has the capacity to act as an intermediary in the midst of a conflict that exists between different parties: Ukraine, Russia, the United States”. U nastavku je poručio da bi Sveta Stolica mogla „encourage this kind of mediation” u potrazi za „just peace”.
Istoga dana u Moskvi, Vladimir Putin optužio je Europu da „sprječava američku administraciju u postizanju mira u Ukrajini” te zaprijetio: „Russia does not intend to fight Europe, but if Europe starts, we are ready right now.” Pregovori Washingtona i Moskve održani u utorak nisu donijeli pomak prema sporazumu.
Papa je podsjetio da Sveta Stolica nije članica NATO-a ni dosadašnjih pregovaračkih formata, ali da uporno poziva na prekid vatre i dijalog. Još je u svibnju, nedugo nakon izbora, talijanskoj premijerki Giorgii Meloni potvrdio spremnost Vatikana da ugosti mirovne razgovore.
„And it is now a war with many aspects: with the increase in arms, all the armaments production going on, cyber-attacks, energy. Now that winter is coming there is a serious problem there”, upozorio je Leo, naglasivši kako okončanje sukoba ostaje „važan iskorak za mir u svijetu”.
