The head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Francis on Sunday renewed calls for ‘real negotiations’ to end what he termed the ‘increasingly dangerous escalation’ of the conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking from the window of the apostolic palace in St Peter’s Square on Sunday afternoon, the pontiff said; ‘As the fury of destruction and death rages and clashes flare, fuelling an escalation that is increasingly dangerous for all, I renew my appeal to the leaders of nations: Please do not lead humanity to destruction’.
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Africa Today News, New York reports that with over a hundred days since the start of the war, the pope made a case for ‘real negotiations for a ceasefire and a solution’ to end it.
Recall that on Saturday, the 85-year-old pope confirmed his desire to visit Ukraine, but said he wanted to wait for “the right moment”.
Tens of thousands of people have been killed, millions forced to flee and towns turned into rubble since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an all-out assault on his pro-Western neighbour on February 24.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has declared that there would be no victor from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the ongoing war entered its 100th day and Moscow’s forces pressed deeper into the eastern Donbas region.
‘This war has and will have no winner. Rather, we have witnessed for 100 days what is lost: lives, homes, jobs and prospects,’ Amin Awad, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Crisis Coordinator for Ukraine, said in a statement.
Africa Today News, New York reports that after being repelled from around the capital, President Vladimir Putin’s troops have set their sights on capturing eastern Ukraine, prompting warnings the war could drag on.
Some of the fiercest fighting is now centred on Severodonetsk in the Donbas region, 80 per cent of which the Russians have seized, but Ukrainian forces are putting up stiff resistance.