Pope Leo Urges Ukraine and Russia to Cooperate on Aid for Oleshky

AFP

Pope Leo XIV during the weekly general audience inside Paul VI hall at the Vatican.

Pope Leo has urged Ukraine and Russia to cooperate to allow humanitarian aid and food supplies into the besieged Ukrainian town of Oleshky, following a telephone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday, the Vatican said.

Residents of Oleshky, which has been under Russian occupation since February 2022, have reported a worsening food crisis.

Leo "expressed the hope that cooperation between both parties will allow ⁠for the delivery of food and medical aid, and for the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population," the Vatican said in a statement about Monday's call.

The call followed a conversation between Leo and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, during which the pope urged the Russian leader to arrange a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid to reach the town.

The Kremlin subsequently said Putin had agreed to work with the pope to organise supplies for Oleshky, although its statement made no mention of a ceasefire.

Pope Leo, who was elected in May 2025, has met Zelenskiy on several occasions.

Their most recent meeting took place in December at the pope’s residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. Following the meeting, Leo called on European leaders to adopt a united approach to negotiations aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.



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