Kuleba thanks Pope Francis for solidarity with Ukraine

Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba has expressed his gratitude to the Holy See and His Holiness Pope Francis for solidarity with Ukraine, Ukrinform reports with reference to the Government portal.

"On April 20, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba had a telephone conversation with Secretary for Relations with States within the Holy See's Secretariat of State, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher," reads the report.

Kuleba informed his interlocutor about an increase in Russia's military presence along the Ukrainian border, the aggravation of the security situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and growth of Russian disinformation.

"Dmytro Kuleba expressed gratitude for the solidarity of the Holy See and personally His Holiness Pope Francis with Ukraine and support at a time when our state is countering Russia's armed aggression. The Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed our country's commitment to the political and diplomatic settlement," reads the report.

The interlocutors paid special attention to bilateral cooperation and discussed the further development of the political dialogue between Ukraine and the Holy See.

According to Ukrinform, on April 19, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba at a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council proposed a step-by-step plan on how to discourage Moscow from further escalation.

iy