Vladimir Putin thanked the pope for supporting peace efforts but accused Ukraine of fueling war, calling Kyiv's actions “terrorism,” according to the Kremlin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his gratitude to Pope Leo for offering help in resolving the Ukraine conflict, while accusing Kyiv of deliberately escalating the war, the Kremlin said on Wednesday.
According to a Kremlin statement, the two spoke by phone, although no date was provided. The Vatican’s involvement appears to focus on humanitarian concerns, but the Kremlin also linked it to potential peace negotiations — something Donald Trump recently said the pope had offered to host in the Vatican.
“Gratitude was expressed to the Pontiff for his readiness to help settle the crisis,” the Kremlin said, adding praise for the Vatican’s willingness to engage on humanitarian issues “on a depoliticised basis.”
Putin used the conversation to lash out at Ukraine’s conduct during the war, claiming Kyiv is focused on escalating the conflict and accused it of launching “sabotage” attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure, which he labeled as “terrorism.”
The Kremlin emphasized the need to address the “root causes” of the conflict — Kremlin shorthand for its long-standing demands:
That Ukraine adopt a neutral status, and that NATO halt any eastward expansion.
Russia has long worked to maintain cordial ties with the Vatican, especially under Pope Francis, focusing mostly on humanitarian efforts, like the reunification of families divided by war.
Despite this, top Russian officials — including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov — have repeatedly downplayed the idea of the Vatican as a serious venue for peace talks, citing the predominantly Orthodox Christian identity of both Russia and Ukraine.
The Kremlin’s statement also referenced recent talks with Ukrainian negotiators over prisoner exchanges and the return of servicemen’s remains — framing it as a modest diplomatic breakthrough.
It also called on the Vatican to “take a more active role” in defending freedom of religion in Ukraine, referencing the Ukrainian Orthodox Church with historic ties to Russia.
Ukrainian authorities have launched criminal investigations against some clergy suspected of pro-Russian sympathies since the full-scale invasion began. Meanwhile, a Kyiv-based Ukrainian Orthodox Church — independent of Moscow — has rapidly gained ground inside Ukraine.
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