POPE Leo XIV yesterday called for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine — but told of his fears that World War Three had started “in pieces”.

The new Pontiff appealed for “no more war” in his first Sunday address.

But his message of hope in the three-year conflict came as ­Russian President Vladimir Putin snubbed demands for a 30-day ceasefire starting today.

Instead, the tyrant called for direct talks with Kyiv in Turkey on Thursday, without any offer to halt the fighting.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky initially ruled that out unless the ceasefire demand was agreed.

Following an intervention from US President Donald Trump, Mr. Zelensky stated last night that he plans to meet with Putin in Turkey on Thursday, saying he would be there “personally.”

The Pope — who before he was elected condemned Putin’s invasion — spoke to 100,000 people in St Peter’s Square.

The leader of the world’s 1.4billion Catholics made wide-ranging calls for peace.

He urged both sides in the Gaza conflict to reach a ceasefire and called on Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostages.

But he did welcome the India-Pakistan ceasefire and said he was praying that God would grant the world the “miracle of peace”.

From the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo, the first American Pope, addressed the audience in fluent Italian: “The immense tragedy of the Second World War concluded 80 years ago… yet now we are encountering the tragedy of a Third World War in fragments.

“I bear the suffering of the beloved Ukrainian people in my heart. The situation in the Gaza Strip also deeply troubles me. Let there be an immediate ceasefire. And may all hostages be released.”

“I was happy to hear on the other hand there’s a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.”

Putin had welcomed India’s Defence Minister Shri Sanjay Seth to Moscow for Friday’s Victory Day parade in Red Square.

But yesterday, after the three-day ceasefire to mark the parade ended, he launched 108 drones on Ukraine.

He had also rebuffed pleas from European leaders, including PM Sir Keir Starmer, to a 30-day ceasefire — instead proposing direct talks with Kyiv.

That led to Mr Trump urging Ukraine to meet with Putin for the peace talks.

He posted: “HAVE THE MEETING, NOW!!!”

After agreeing to meet in Turkey, Mr Zelensky added: “We await a full and lasting ceasefire, starting from tomorrow, to provide the necessary basis for diplomacy,”