The pontiff called arms dealers who profit from war “criminals who kill humanity”
THE Pope Francis called today for “tangible steps” to end the war in Ukraine and avert the risk of a nuclear disaster at its power plant Zaporizhia.
THE IAEA, The UN nuclear watchdog said on Tuesday it would visit the Russian-held station in Ukraine within days if talks to gain access to it are successful.
Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly accused each other of firing on the station, the largest of its kind in Europe, which was seized by pro-Moscow forces shortly after the February 24 invasion. The United Nations has called for the area to be demilitarized.
“I hope tangible steps will be taken to bring an end to the war and prevent the risk of a nuclear disaster in ZaporizhiaFrancis said at the weekly general audience.
Speaking on the anniversary of Ukraine’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and six months after Russian forces invaded the country, Francis condemned the wars as “madness” and referred to the death of Daria Dugina, the daughter of a prominent Russian ultranationalist, by a bomb planted in her car exploded near Moscow on Saturday.
“Innocents pay for war“, he said.
Moscow blamed the killing on Ukrainian agents, a charge Kyiv denies.
Francis called them arms dealers, who profit from war, “criminals who kill humanity”.
In an interview with Reuters last month, Francis said he wants to visit Kyiv but also wants to go to Moscow, preferably first, to promote peace.
Francis will attend a conference of religious leaders in the Kazakh capital Nur-Sultan on September 13-15, where he has said he hopes to meet with Russian Patriarch Kirillwhich supports the war in Ukraine.
Ukraine has been pressing Francis to go to Kyiv first, saying an earlier meeting with Cyril would send the wrong message to the Ukrainian people.
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