Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a phone call with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See.
Andriy Yermak and Pietro Parolin discussed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Bring Kids Back UA initiative, which has already been supported by many countries. It is one of the integral elements of the concept of implementing the Ukrainian Peace Formula, in particular, the clause on the return of deported children and the release of civilian hostages and prisoners of war.
The Head of the Presidential Office invited representatives of the Holy See to take part in the first meeting of the international coalition of countries for the return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia to be held on December 8 in Kyiv.
Andriy Yermak expressed gratitude to Vatican City for the participation of its representative in the meeting of national security and political advisers in Malta.
He also noted the agreement of Cardinal Pietro Parolin to lead a solemn service in one of the largest churches in Rome, Sant'Andrea della Valle, this Thursday on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of one of the greatest tragedies in the history of Ukraine - the Holodomor-Genocide of 1932-1933.
According to him, this is a significant sign of closeness on the part of the Holy See and readiness to continue to support Ukraine in its sacred struggle for freedom and dignity.
"Ukraine clearly perceives this fact as an important signal to the international community, which, like Vatican City, should recognize this tragedy as a criminal act of genocide by the totalitarian Soviet-Russian regime," said Andriy Yermak.