He stressed that the crisis risks a nuclear escalation

Pope Francis appeals to the Russian president to "end the cycle of violence"

The Pope called on Zelensky to be open to serious peace proposals.

EPA

Yesterday, Pope Francis appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to "stop the cycle of violence and death in Ukraine", saying that the crisis there risks a nuclear escalation with uncontrollable and dangerous consequences on a global scale.

In a speech dedicated to Ukraine and addressed to thousands in St Peter's Square, the pope also appealed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to open up to serious peace proposals.

In his speech, which came two days after Putin announced the annexation of nearly a fifth of Ukraine, and put the areas he declared annexed under the Russian nuclear umbrella, the Pope defended the right of all nations to sovereignty and territorial integrity, and said it was absurd for the world to risk a nuclear conflict.

"I address my appeal first to the President of the Russian Federation, asking him to stop, out of love for his people as well, this cycle of violence and death," the Pope said.

On the other hand, I am deeply saddened by the enormous suffering of the Ukrainian population in the wake of the aggression they have been subjected to, and I also make a confident appeal to the President of Ukraine, to be open to serious peace proposals.

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