Zelenskyy Meets Pope Francis at Vatican

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Pope Francis at the Vatican, where they exchanged symbolic gifts, including Zelenskyy's painting titled 'Bucha Massacre: The Story of Marichka', which illustrates the atrocities committed by Russian forces in Bucha through the eyes of a young girl. The private meeting lasted 35 minutes and focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine and humanitarian issues, with the Pope emphasizing the need for peace. In return, Pope Francis gifted Zelenskyy a bronze plaque inscribed with 'Peace is a fragile flower'. This marks Zelenskyy's third audience with the Pope since the onset of the full-scale war in February 2022. The meeting occurs amidst Zelenskyy's European tour aimed at garnering support for Ukraine's 'victory plan' to end the conflict with Russia. The discussions also touched on prisoner exchanges and the broader humanitarian situation in Ukraine.