Pope Francis believes Russia's war against Ukraine will not be ending anytime soon

 The pontiff said this in an interview with the Spanish newspaper ABC.

 "I don't see an end in the short term because it's a world war. Let's not forget that. Many hands are stirring the cauldron of war. It's global. I think war starts when an empire starts to weaken. And when there are weapons to be used, tested and sold. There's a lot at stake," he said.

In particular, the Pope said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent one of his religious advisors to him for the 3rd time.

 "I'm in touch, I accept, I help," he added.

In addition, the pontiff also said that he would like to receive "a little peace" as a gift for Christmas.

 "A little peace. There are so many wars in the world! The one in Ukraine concerns us the most, but let's remember Myanmar, Yemen, Syria, where they have been fighting for 13 years," the Pope said, answering a journalist's question about a Christmas present  .

• On June 14, the head of the Catholic Church spoke about his attitude to the Russian-Ukrainian war.  Pope Francis said that it is impossible to simplify and divide the world into good and evil, but one must think about the complex reasons and interests of certain actions.  Pope Francis still suggests that "Putin could have been provoked."
•  At the same time, he has never directly condemned the leadership of the Russian Federation and Vladimir Putin personally for the invasion and war crimes in Ukraine.
•  Before that, Pope Francis repeatedly spoke about Russia's war against Ukraine  as a typical bilateral conflict, and not as Russian aggression.  This war, in his opinion, should end at the table of peace negotiations.
•  However, the head of the Vatican does not accept the invitation to visit Ukraine, citing poor health.  At the same time, he makes long trips abroad to other distant countries, for example to Canada.