Pope Leo XIV urges Zelensky to cooperate with Russia for the sake of aid to Oleshky

Pope Leo XIV held a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky on October 19, during which he urged Ukraine and Russia to work together so that food and medicine could reach the occupied city of Oleshky in the Kherson region.

This was reported by Reuters.

The call took place three days after the pontiff had asked Vladimir Putin to declare a humanitarian ceasefire in the area around the city.

What the Vatican said

According to a statement from the Holy See Press Office, the pontiff “recalled the difficult situation in the city of Oleshky” and mentioned “the request for a humanitarian ceasefire that he had addressed to the President of the Russian Federation.” Leo XIV expressed hope that “the cooperation of both sides will make it possible to deliver food and medical assistance,” as well as ensure “the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population.” He also reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to dialogue and peace. According to Ukrinform, Zelensky’s office had not commented on the call by Monday evening.

Russian forces have controlled Oleshky since February 2022. Residents of the city, according to Reuters, speak of a worsening food crisis.

The appeal to Putin from the hospital

The conversation with Putin took place on Friday, October 16. Leo XIV conducted it while staying at Rome’s Gemelli clinic, where he was recovering from surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. According to the Associated Press, this was their second known conversation since Leo became pope. After the meeting, the Kremlin said Putin had agreed to work with the pope on delivering aid to the city, but made no mention of a ceasefire, Reuters noted.

The pope underwent surgery on October 13; tests confirmed lung adenocarcinoma. On Saturday he was discharged from the hospital and, according to AP, is expected to hold his weekly general audience on Wednesday.

Overnight attack on Ukraine

The pontiff’s appeal came several hours after a large-scale Russian strike. According to Reuters, Russia fired 16 ballistic missiles at Kyiv and the surrounding region, and more than 200 drones across Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 269 Shahed-type drones. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 243 drones and four cruise missiles, with hits recorded in 25 locations, AP writes.

More than half a million households were left without electricity. Zelensky said Ukraine had once again not received early warning from its partners.

“In just this one night, more than 10 energy infrastructure facilities were damaged, and at least 550,000 families were left without power,” Zelensky said, as reported by the Kyiv Independent.

Russia’s Defense Ministry described what happened as a “massive strike” on defense industry facilities and a data center, AP reports.