President Vladimir Putin and Pope Leo XIV held a telephone conversation on June 4th, focusing on the ongoing War in Ukraine. According to a statement released by the Kremlin,Putin expressed his desire to find a peaceful resolution thru “Diplomatic routes.”

The Kremlin’s statement quoted Vladimir Putin as saying that “the kyiv regime is committed to the escalation of the conflict and carries out sabotage actions against civil infrastructure in Russian territory.”

Putin and Pope Discussed Ukraine Conflict

During the call, Putin thanked the Pope for his willingness to mediate an end to the conflict. He also accused Ukraine of intentionally targeting Russian air bases and civilian infrastructure, labeling these actions as “terrorist acts.” Putin further expressed his hope for increased Vatican involvement in promoting religious freedom in ukraine.

“Vladimir Putin stressed that the kyiv regime is committed to the escalation of the conflict.”

Putin conveyed the well-wishes of Patriarca Kiril of Russia to the “high pontiff” and suggested future collaboration to establish “a more fair and equitable world order.” Both leaders also explored opportunities for enhanced cultural and humanitarian cooperation, especially concerning the “Protection of Christians” and sacred sites in the Middle East and other regions.

Pope Leo XIV’s Role as a Potential Mediator

Pope Leo XIV voiced his support for continued dialog between the Catholic Church and the russian Orthodox Church, emphasizing the importance of strengthening cooperation based on shared spiritual principles and moral values. He offered the Vatican as a potential venue for future peace negotiations between Russia and ukraine, signaling his willingness to mediate.