Pope Leo XIV, just days after lung cancer surgery, called Russian President Vladimir Putin to request a cease-fire for Oleshky, a besieged Ukrainian city in the Kherson region. The Vatican reported that the pope appealed for food, medical aid, and a safe evacuation corridor for the approximately 2,000 civilians—including 40 children—trapped there. Ukrainian officials say food deliveries stopped in May after mines and drones blocked the only road.
The Kremlin stated Putin thanked the pope and supported efforts to ensure safety and supplies, though past humanitarian agreements have often failed. Oleshky, once home to 24,000 people, lies on the Russian-controlled left bank of the Dnipro River, surrounded by mined areas and drone activity. Ukrainian exiled leader Tetiana Hasanenko welcomed the pope’s intervention, noting the worsening crisis.
Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican’s special envoy, recently returned from his third mission to Moscow, where he discussed prisoner exchanges and child repatriation with Russian officials.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing