Pope Leo telephoned President Vladimir Putin on Friday to urge action on a worsening food crisis in the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky, and the Kremlin said the Russian leader had agreed to cooperate on getting vital supplies to its residents. The pontiff asked Putin to arrange a ceasefire that would allow aid and food into the town, which Russian forces seized in February 2022, according to the Vatican.
Leo expressed “deep concern” over the humanitarian situation in Oleshky, the Holy See said, where residents have reported a deepening shortage of food. Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of blocking deliveries to the town, which Ukrainian forces are seeking to retake.
“The Vatican’s intention to help create the conditions necessary to ensure the safety of the town’s population and to organise vital supplies has been supported,” the Kremlin said in a statement, which made no mention of a ceasefire. “It has been agreed to cooperate on this matter.”
The Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, told reporters after the call that the conversation had been initiated by Leo, who wanted “to plead the cause of this besieged city”. The pope also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to any initiatives for peace, the Vatican said. It is only the second known conversation between the two leaders, following a call in June 2025.
Russia has acknowledged critical problems with food and medical supplies in Oleshky and said its military is working to resolve them, blaming Ukraine for obstructing deliveries. Ukraine, for its part, has said it is Russia that is thwarting food shipments.
The humanitarian stakes are significant. Oleshky, in Ukraine’s Kherson region, had a pre-war population of roughly 24,000 but is now home to around 1,700 residents, including 47 children, according to Danielle Bell, head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine.
The call came as the pope continues his recovery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital following surgery for lung cancer. The Vatican said earlier on Friday that the 71-year-old pontiff is showing steady improvement and is able to work and carry out normal daily activities. The Kremlin said Putin had wished Leo a speedy and full recovery.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/putin-agrees-to-cooperate-with-pope-leos-plea-for-aid-for-ukrainian-town-12197446#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-10-17 04:27:00
