World · 18 d ago
Edgar Beltrán / The Pillar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Pope Leo XIV urges Putin to agree to a ceasefire in occupied Oleshky
Oleshky
Kherson region, Ukraine
In a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the pope expressed “deep concern” about the humanitarian situation in Oleshky, the Kremlin and the Vatican said. He called for a ceasefire to let aid in and civilians leave safely.
Residents have lived under Russian occupation since 2022, and constant drone attacks have left them without food, electricity or adequate medical care. They cannot safely leave the city.
What we know
- Kremlin backs the Vatican’s aid effort
- Both sides agreed to co-operate
Not yet
- Whether a ceasefire will follow
The Kremlin said Putin blamed Kyiv for the situation, but backed the Vatican’s wish to help keep residents safe and get supplies in. The two sides agreed to co-operate, it said.
The pope is in hospital after a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma, a form of lung cancer. He has had surgery and is recovering under medical supervision.
