President Zelensky called for an end to the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible.

During a conversation with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin during his visit to Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volydmyr Zelensky stated that he understood the conflict in Ukraine needed to end as soon as possible. A video of the meeting was posted by President Zelensky on his Telegram channel.

"I think we all understand that we must end the war as soon as possible," President Zelensky said.

President Zelensky also described Foreign Minister Parolin's visit as a "strong signal from the Vatican" and expressed gratitude for participating in the Summit in Switzerland last June.

Earlier, in an interview with British television, Zelensky acknowledged the possibility of negotiating peace with representatives of Russia, even if that representative were President Vladimir Putin.

The second Ukraine peace conference is scheduled to take place in November. However, there is no indication that Russia will attend the event.

President Zelensky has softened his tone considerably in recent statements, frequently signaling his willingness to negotiate with Russia.

Russia has repeatedly expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue, but Kyiv has not yet lifted the ban on negotiations with Moscow at the legislative level.

In June, President Putin stated that Russia would end the conflict in Ukraine if Ukraine withdrew its troops from Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye; did not join NATO, did not form military alliances, maintained neutrality; and recognized the Crimean Peninsula as part of Russia.