Pope Leo XIV called for a diplomatic solution to the conflict in Ukraine

Pope Leo XIV expressed hope for concrete results in efforts to resume negotiations on Ukraine and called for opening the path to diplomacy.

On Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met in the Kremlin with US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and the American leader’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The negotiations lasted about three hours. From the Russian side, the meeting was attended by Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Yuri Ushakov and the President's Special Representative for Investment and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries, Head of the RDIF Kirill Dmitriev.

“I hope that the efforts being made these days to resume negotiations will bring concrete results and open up space for diplomacy,” he said at the end of the traditional Sunday sermon in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican.

In early August, Pope Leo called for an end to the spiral of violence in Ukraine, declaring the need to respect international law. The Pontiff expressed support for the families of those killed and injured during the conflict, including as a result of attacks on Russia.