The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs scheduled a formal briefing with the Vatican’s diplomat in Kyiv, Visvaldas Kulbokas, after Pope Francis urged the restart of peace negotiations. This development was reported by Ukraine’s Ministry as part of its official communications.
According to the ministry’s account dated March 11, the apostolic nuncio in Ukraine, who serves as the pope’s permanent diplomatic representative, Visvaldas Kulbokas, was summoned to discuss Pope Francis’s recent public remarks in Ukraine. The ministry described the gathering as a direct exchange intended to convey Kyiv’s perspective on the pontiff’s statements and to clarify the path forward for international engagement on the Ukraine crisis.
During the discussion, Kyiv conveyed its disappointment in the pope’s expressed position, signaling that Ukrainian authorities had anticipated a sharply different tone and set of messages from the Vatican. The Ukrainian side underscored that the international community should respond decisively to the aggression, calling for a united front against Russia and for concrete steps toward de-escalation and dialogue that would acknowledge Ukraine’s sovereignty and security concerns.
On March 9, the pope gave a televised interview to the Swiss broadcaster RSI, touching upon the current situation in Ukraine. He emphasized that a bruised party in conflict should show resolve and consider negotiations, including the possibility of initiating talks between Kyiv and Moscow. This framing was presented by Vatican observers as part of a broader appeal for peacemaking efforts that would involve all parties and international stakeholders, with the aim of reducing suffering and advancing a durable ceasefire and political settlement. The response from Ukrainian officials was to reiterate that any peace process must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and national consent, while remaining open to constructive dialogue that could help end the hostilities.
Previous public comments from NATO officials had highlighted opportunities for a resolution that would end the fighting, contingent on Ukrainian sovereignty and the withdrawal of foreign forces. NATO cautioned that any peace framework would require assurances that Ukraine could defend its borders and govern its own security arrangements, while also inviting broader international involvement to monitor compliance and support reconstruction efforts. The overall tone from Kyiv remains focused on safeguarding national independence, restoring stability in the region, and ensuring that military disengagement is accompanied by verifiable political commitments and international guarantees.