Pope Francis said in an interview with Corriere della Sera that Hungarian Prime Minister told him Russia is planning to end its military operation in Ukraine on May 9.
"When I met him, he told me that the Russians have a plan, that on May 9th it will all be over. I hope this is the case, so we would also understand the escalation of these days. Because now it's not just Donbass, it's Crimea, it's Odessa, it's taking away the Black Sea port from Ukraine," the pontiff stated. "I am pessimistic but we must do everything possible to stop the war," he added.
Pope Francis added that he asked for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin back in March but is yet to receive a response from Moscow. "We are still insisting. Even if I think that Putin cannot and does not want to have this meeting right now," he noted.
