Pope Francis stated Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban told him that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to end the invasion of Ukraine on May 9; Russia’s Victory Day.

In an interview, the Pope made the remarks to the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera.

“Orban, when I met him, he told me that the Russians have a plan, that everything will be over on May 9th,” Pope Francis said.

“This would also explain the speed of the escalation of these days. Because now it’s not just the Donbas, it’s Crimea, it’s Odesa, it’s taking away the Black Sea port from Ukraine, it’s everything.”

There is not enough will for peace,” he said.

“I am pessimistic, but we must make every possible gesture to stop the war.”

Pope Francis reiterated his willingness to travel to Moscow to talk with Putin.

He also compared the conflict in Ukraine to the Rwandan massacre.

Pope continued, “We have not yet received an answer and we are still insisting, even if I fear that Putin cannot and does not want to have this meeting right now. But so much brutality, how can you not stop it? Twenty-five years ago we experienced the same thing with Rwanda.”