Vatican envoy suggests Minsk as possible venue for Ukraine peace talks

December 26, BPN. Minsk can again become a center for peace in Ukraine, Archbishop Ante Jozić, the apostolic nuncio to Belarus, told STV.

Steps in this direction have been made at “lower or higher levels,” he added.

“I will be very happy if peace talks continue here as well, as it has been in the past,” he said, stressing the Vatican’s commitment to peace.

The Vatican has received “positive answers to various questions” at the bilateral and local levels in Belarus, Jozić said.

“As a representative of the Vatican, I can say that so far, I have always found an open heart, help, support, and mutual understanding in all areas,” the diplomat added.

On December 17, Alaksandr Łukašenka said that Belarus and the Holy See “share the same vision” on solving the most pressing problems of the modern world.

Earlier, the Vatican condemned Russia’s war on Ukraine and offered mediation in the conflict resolution, while Łukašenka admitted that Belarus participated in Russia’s war on Ukraine.

Belarusian authorities persecuted Roman Catholic priests after the disputed 2020 election over their civic position. The church leadership has not publicly reacted to such incidents.