Pope Leo says he hopes Oleshky truce could spur Ukraine-Russia peace efforts - The Straits Times

Pope Leo spoke to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Oct 16.

VATICAN CITY – Pope Leo XIV said on Nov 1 that he hoped cooperation between Russia and Ukraine in implementing a ceasefire in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian town of Oleshky would pave the way for broader peace efforts.

Ukraine and Russia said on Oct 23 that they had agreed to a ceasefire in Oleshky, brokered by US First Lady Melania Trump with the additional involvement of Pope Leo, to allow aid deliveries and evacuations from the front-line town, which has been suffering from acute food and medicine shortages.

“A humanitarian operation has been carried out to help the civilian population in the city of Oleshky. I hope that the cooperation between the parties, which made this necessary humanitarian gesture possible, will strengthen their willingness to engage in dialogue and lead to fresh concrete initiatives for peace,” Pope Leo said during his Sunday prayer.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said peace negotiators would meet for fresh talks in early November.

Pope Leo spoke to both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky on Oct 16.

Putin told the Pope he supported a Vatican initiative to deliver supplies to civilians in Oleshky and was ready to cooperate, the Kremlin said.

On Oct 27, the Vatican’s foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, said that although Leo had recently spoken to Putin and Zelensky, he did not believe the Vatican had played a direct role in arranging the six-day ceasefire. REUTERS