Pope Francis has marked the anniversary of the "absurd and cruel" war in Ukraine by appealing for a ceasefire and warning that Russia will never achieve a "real victory" built on rubble.
During his weekly general audience, Francis said: "We remain close to the martyred people of Ukraine who continue to suffer and we ask ourselves: Has everything been done to stop the war?".
He emphasized that the number of war victims "speaks for itself" in terms of the dead, wounded, homeless and economic and social destruction.
"Can God forgive so many crimes and violence?" he asked.
"I call on those who are at the head of the countries to commit concretely to end the conflict, to reach a cease-fire and to start peace negotiations."
