[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Russia stated that there is "no agreement yet" on the possibility of a meeting between Pope Francis and President Vladimir Putin.
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, said this at a press conference on the 4th (local time).
The Pope had revealed in an interview with an Italian daily the previous day that he had sought a meeting with President Putin in Moscow to resolve the Ukraine crisis but had not yet received a response.
Regarding predictions that Russia will declare an all-out war on the 9th, the Victory Day of World War II, Peskov denied them as "absurd." He emphasized, "Do not pay attention to such talk," adding, "It is not true and makes no sense."
He also denied Ukraine's claim that Russian forces are attacking the Mariupol Azovstal steel plant again, stating, "The supreme commander has publicly ordered a halt to attacks, and there are no assaults."
Regarding the European Union (EU) pushing for sanctions such as bans on Russian crude oil and petroleum products, he said, "We are monitoring the situation and considering various options." He added, "Sanctions will be a double-edged sword."
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