The Vatican approves the US peace plan for Ukraine which reportedly envisages major territorial concessions as well as a downsizing of Kyiv’s armed forces, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said Thursday.

“Yes, we have accepted it in this sense,” said Parolin when asked if the US peace plan for Ukraine is a possibility for ending the conflict.

“It seems to me so, hoping that paths of dialogue will truly open up that will allow an end to this tragedy.” Asked if this isn’t a surrender, he replied: “Now they will discuss, and then we will try to find a compromise.” “The path to negotiation is uphill, but they will discuss,” and “Europe,” he emphasized, “should participate and make its voice heard and not be left out.” The plan reportedly envisages handing over the occupied Crimea and Donbass to Russia, both of them nonstarters for Kyiv.