Vatican to handle release of Ukrainian journalists from Russian captivity

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Francis at the Vatican the previous day. The main topics of the meeting were the return of Ukrainian prisoners of war and discussion of peace issues amid the ongoing conflict. This is stated in a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He pointed out that the head of the Vatican will be handed a list of Ukrainian journalists held captive by Russia and that Kiev counts on the help of the Catholic Church in their return to their homeland.

We need special assistance, in particular the efforts of the Vatican. We have agreed that Ukraine will hand over a list of journalists who are now in Russian captivity, and we have discussed in detail the return of civilians, the return of deported children. We hope for support," Zelensky said.

The meeting between the Pope and the Ukrainian leader at the Vatican lasted about half an hour. The pontiff presented Zelensky with a cast bronze bas-relief of a blossoming flower with the inscription "Peace is a fragile flower". The Ukrainian president presented the Pope with the painting "Buchanska Massacre. The Story of Marichka."

This is the third meeting between the Ukrainian president and Pope Francis since the Russians invaded Ukraine. Before that, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Vatican in May 2023 and also met with the pontiff at the G7 summit, which was held in Italy's Puglia.

This week Vladimir Zelensky made a number of meetings in Europe. The head of state visited Croatia, the UK, France and Italy. The President presented to European leaders the plan of Ukraine's victory. Also during the foreign trip, the head of state met with the new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

We will remind, on 10 October, it became known about the death of Ukrainian journalist Victoria Roschina in Russian captivity. The girl was held in at least two prisons: penal colony No. 77 in Berdyansk and pre-trial detention centre No. 2 in Taganrog. She was on the exchange lists. On the eve of the exchange on 13 September 2024, Roschina and at least one other woman from Melitopol were taken from Taganrog. It is not known where to. The Russian side reported that Viktoria Roshchina died on 19 September 2024, allegedly on her way to Moscow. The reasons and circumstances are unknown.