Kretschmer made his comments in an interview with the RND editorial board.

According to him, the Pope is a sensible man, and I share his call for Kiev to show courage in the negotiations with Russia.

The politician said that the European countries should make more efforts to end deaths in Ukraine.

The Europeans should try to agree on a ceasefire before the presidential elections in the United States, as the logic of violence and death must be overcome, Kretschmer stressed.

In an interview with the Swiss broadcaster RSI on March 9, Pope Francis called for the start of the negotiation process on Ukraine with the participation of international mediators. jg/iff/mem/amp