Pope Francis. Archival photoMOSCOW, 26 Aug. Pope Francis supports the view that NATO is responsible for launching the Russian special operation, adviser to former US President Donald Trump on Russia Fiona Hill and professor at Georgetown University Angela Stent write in an article for Foreign Affairs. According to them, Moscow's position is that the US and other Western countries are waging a proxy war in Ukraine, and the Catholic religious leader agrees with this point of view.
"Internationally, beliefs <…> about NATO and the proxy war with the United States and the collective West have won many supporters, from prominent scientists to Pope Francis, who said that the conflict in Ukraine may have been provoked in some way. /p>The authors noted that Western politicians and analysts continue to argue about the fault of the North Atlantic Alliance in the escalation of the conflict.In Italy, they reported the dissatisfaction of the Pope with Zelensky because of Russia «Whether Ukraine wanted to join the EU, NATO or have bilateral relations with the United States, any of these efforts would be an insult to the history and dignity of Russia,» writes FA. In May, the Pope Francis said in an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that NATO actions near the borders of Russia could push Moscow to start a special operation. The pontiff admitted that he found it difficult to answer the question of whether it is right to supply weapons to Ukraine, but at the same time spoke in favor of abandoning the arms race. Russia has been conducting a military special operation in Ukraine since February 24. According to President Vladimir Putin, its ultimate goal is the liberation of Donbass and the creation of conditions that guarantee the security of Russia itself. Allied forces have already completely liberated the Luhansk People's Republic and a significant part of Donetsk, including Volnovakha, Mariupol and Svyatogorsk. NATO General's ideas to send troops to Ukraine