Zelenskyy says he understands need to end war 'as soon as possible'

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that he understands the need to end the conflict "as soon as possible."

"I think we all understand that we must end the war as soon as possible, of course," he said at a meeting in Kyiv with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Zelenskyy also assessed Parolin's visit to Kyiv as a "strong signal from the Vatican," without further explaining what he meant.

In a statement on Telegram, Zelenskyy also said that the issues of peace were central at the meeting with Parolin.

International efforts are also aimed at finding a solution to the conflict.

The June 15-16 conference on Ukraine in Burgenstock, Switzerland, took place without Russia's participation.

Representatives from 92 nations and 8 international organizations attended the conference in Switzerland. It ended with the adoption of the final statement, which was not signed by some countries, including Brazil, India, South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

The communique covered three issues: Ukraine’s grain export, the safety of nuclear power stations and the return of war prisoners.

A day before the summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin moved forward his own peace initiative, calling on Ukraine to recognize Russia's territorial claims made during the "special military operation" that started in Feb. 2022.