Putin responds to Pope Leo's call to provide aid to a Ukrainian town

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The Kremlin said that Russian President Vladimir Putin told Pope Leo on Friday that he had agreed to the Pope's request for help to deliver vital supplies to the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshki.

The Vatican reported that Laon phoned Putin and asked him to arrange a ceasefire to allow aid and food supplies to enter the town, which Russian forces took control of in February 2022.

Residents reported that the food crisis there has worsened recently. The Vatican added that Pope Leo expressed his "deep concern" about the humanitarian situation there.

Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of obstructing the arrival of supplies to the town, which Ukrainian forces are seeking to recapture.

The Kremlin statement did not mention anything about the ceasefire. The Kremlin said in its statement: “In light of the Pope’s concern for the fate of civilians in the Russian town of Oleshki in the Kherson region, comprehensive clarifications were provided regarding the Kiev regime’s responsibility for the difficult humanitarian situation there.” The Kremlin statement added that Putin supported the Vatican's intention to facilitate the creation of conditions to ensure the safety of the city's residents and the provision of vital supplies. The Kremlin concluded its statement by saying: “It was agreed to cooperate in this matter.”

Pope Leo and Putin spoke once before, in June 2025.

The Vatican stated that Pope Leo reaffirmed the Vatican's commitment to any initiatives for peace in Ukraine.