Vatican Urges End to Ukraine War in Moscow Talks

Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday, marking the first in-person talks between Vatican and Russian officials in five years.

At a joint press conference, Gallagher stressed the need to end the war in Ukraine, saying the four-and-a-half-year conflict was creating new victims and making future reconciliation increasingly difficult.

The two diplomats discussed avenues toward peace and agreed to cooperate on humanitarian issues, particularly care for children affected by the war. Gallagher said the Vatican would continue to provide spiritual, diplomatic and humanitarian support and offer a forum for direct dialogue.

The visit follows repeated calls by Pope Leo XIV for an end to the fighting. Earlier this month, the pope expressed regret over the growing number of civilian casualties, including children. Gallagher last visited Moscow for talks with Lavrov in 2021, before the start of the war.

(Reuters, max)