Leonid Sevastianov, leader of the Global Union of Old Believers, reported that Pope Francis has extended an offer to relevant parties for the signing of peace agreements concerning Ukraine, with the Pope himself acting as a personal guarantor.
According to Russia Today, Sevastianov mentioned the Pope’s suggestion for these peace agreements to be signed at significant religious sites within the Vatican, including the tombs of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, with the Pope also willing to personally sign the agreements.
Sevastianov explained that Pope Francis identifies the primary obstacle to initiating negotiations as a crisis of trust between the involved parties. Despite this, there appears to be a mutual willingness to start discussions, prompting the Pope to propose himself as a guarantor for any future peace agreements.
He believes that signing these agreements near the sacred sites would ensure their longevity and reliability.
The Pope expressed hope for the involvement of the United States and Europe in the negotiations, with plans to develop mechanisms for providing financial assistance to Ukraine in the post-war period.
These proposals were shared by Pope Francis during a detailed discussion on peace negotiations with Sevastianov at a recent meeting held at the Vatican at the end of January.
Earlier in February, Pope Francis expressed his gratitude towards the Russian Foreign Ministry, particularly spokesperson Maria Zakharova and the Russian Ambassador to the Vatican, Ivan Soltanovsky, for their appreciation of the Holy See’s efforts towards peace.
Sevastianov concluded that the Pope is urging the Ukrainian leadership to continue the dialogue that began in Minsk and Istanbul, offering the Vatican as a neutral platform to restore trust and further the negotiations initiated in 2022.
