Putin discussed the war in Ukraine with the Pope

(Patria) - Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke by phone yesterday with Pope Leo XIV about the war in Ukraine.

He said he wants to achieve peace diplomatically, but also accused Kyiv of trying to escalate the conflict.

"Putin drew attention to the fact that the regime in Kyiv is counting on the escalation of the conflict and is carrying out sabotage of civilian infrastructure on Russian territory," the Kremlin announced after the talks.

Reuters reminds that this is the first conversation of the new Pope with the Russian leader.

"Putin reiterated his interest in achieving peace through political and diplomatic means, emphasizing that achieving a final, just, and comprehensive solution to the crisis requires eliminating its deep-seated causes," the Kremlin added.

After two rounds of direct negotiations with Kyiv in Istanbul, Moscow continues to present maximalist demands for the end of its offensive, seeking the cession of four regions that Russia has captured since the beginning of the invasion.

Ukraine claims that the Kremlin is participating in these negotiations only to satisfy US President Donald Trump and to postpone the introduction of new US sanctions.

During a constructive conversation with the new Pope, Putin also criticized Kyiv's 2024 decision to ban the Orthodox Church under the Moscow Patriarchate, which previously had the most followers in Ukraine, reports the France Press agency.

The Russian President called on the first American Pope to engage more actively in promoting freedom of religion in Ukraine.

The Vatican has offered itself in recent weeks as a venue for possible peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Putin therefore expressed his "gratitude" to the Pope yesterday for his willingness to contribute to resolving the conflict.