Metropolitan known as Putin’s ‘spiritual’ calls for end to war in Ukraine

A metropolitan known as Vladimir Putin’s “personal confessor” has called for an end to the war in Ukraine, according to Daily Mail.

As the newspaper reports, the Metropolitan of Pskov Tykhon Shevkunov, who is known to have a very close relationship with the Russian president, made dramatic statements saying that it is “God’s will” for peace between the two countries.

Putin’s spiritual adviser called the war an “unprecedented tragedy” and said it “must end peacefully.”

His comments represent a rare intervention by the cleric and may mean Putin is open to a deal after his humiliating defeat in Kherson, the British newspaper said.

Russian troops were forced to leave the city late last week amid a counterattack by Ukrainian troops, with some reportedly disguising themselves as civilians in an attempt to escape.

In an interview with the Rossiya 1 channel – and apparently speaking with Putin’s permission – the 64-year-old bishop admitted that the conflict has begun to take a toll on Russians’ mental state.

“We need to talk about what we wake up with, what we have on our minds all day and what we go to sleep with: it is Ukraine,” the archbishop asserted.

“There is no doubt that we are living an unprecedented tragedy, a fatal stage in the life of our people, our country and Ukraine. How will it end? We will, of course, pray that it ends peacefully and safely. Everyone is asking for peace now,” said the priest.

He added that he is of the opinion that “only God Almighty” can end the bloodshed.

“We need peace by the will of God, to resolve this issue, the fighting, the hatred between brothers. Even if they don’t want to call us brothers now” he declared.

“But we understand that they are brothers and not long ago we were called brothers. I’m sure people can’t solve this. How could it be resolved after everything that has happened? Only Almighty God can solve everything, I have no doubt about that,” Shevkunov said.