Putin holds phone call with Pope

Kiev is seeking escalation and targeting civilian infrastructure, the Russian president told the pontiff, according to the Kremlin.

Ukraine is deliberately escalating the ongoing conflict by targeting civilian infrastructure within Russian territory, President Vladimir Putin has told Pope Leo XIV.

According to the Kremlin, the Russian leader and the Pontiff held “a constructive” phone conversation on Wednesday, during which they discussed a number of topics, including the Ukraine conflict.

Putin pointed out that against a backdrop of resumed direct talks between Moscow and Kiev, the Ukrainian leadership is “doubling down on escalation [and] conducting acts of sabotage against civilian infrastructure on Russian territory.” He described the recent acts of railway sabotage in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk Regions as terrorism, the Kremlin stated.

The Russian president confirmed that Moscow is interested in settling the conflict through political and diplomatic means, but stressed that its root causes should be addressed to ensure a lasting peace.

Briefing the Pope on the progress made during the latest round of direct negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul, Türkiye on Monday, Putin said that the two sides had agreed on exchanging prisoners and the bodies of the dead.

He emphasized that Russia is doing everything it can to ensure the reunification of the children who have been separated from their families during the course of the conflict, according to the Kremlin.

Putin also drew the pontiff’s attention to the persecution of the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church by Kiev authorities, the Kremlin said. He voiced hope that the Holy See would more actively support religious freedom in Ukraine.

Putin thanked the head of the Catholic church “for his willingness to assist in resolving the crisis” as well as the Holy See’s role in mediating pressing humanitarian issues between Moscow and Kiev.

The Russian head of state and the Pope agreed to strengthen bilateral ties and to intensify efforts aimed at protecting Christians worldwide, the statement read.

The 69-year-old cardinal Robert Prevost was elected Pope early last month, the first American ever to assume the role. He succeeded Francis, who died on April 21 at the age of 88.