MOSCOW, December 11. /TASS/. Pope Francis wants a ceasefire be declared in the zone of combat operations in Ukraine and in Russia’s new regions on the Catholic Christmas on December 25, Leonid Sevastyanov, chairman of the World Union of Old Believers (WSU), told TASS, citing his conversation with the pontiff.

"The Pope hopes that a truce will begin by December 25. This is his principled call for the end of the year. He calls for a ceasefire by December 25 so that the parties at least cease shooting. And the ultimate goal is to begin peace talks at last," he said.

According to Sevastyanov, the Pope calls for peace talks so that the parties could discuss mutual claims and ways to settle them.