Vatican Foreign Minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and explore potential avenues for peace, according to the Vatican.
The Russian foreign ministry later stated that the Vatican initiated the call, during which Lavrov and Gallagher discussed “methods to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, ensuring the reliable elimination of its underlying causes.”
While the Vatican has consistently condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has also advocated for dialogue to end the conflict.
Last month, Russia and Ukraine reached a limited ceasefire agreement to refrain from attacking each other’s energy infrastructure. Both nations have accused one another of breaching this agreement, which was facilitated by the United States.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Pope Francis at the Vatican last October, seeking the pontiff’s assistance in securing the release of Ukrainians imprisoned by Russia.
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In September, Lavrov met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s second-highest official, during the U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Pope Francis, currently recovering from double pneumonia and out of the public eye, faced criticism from Ukrainian officials in March 2024 when he suggested that they should have the courage to negotiate an end to the war, referring to the “white flag.” Zelenskiy dismissed the pope’s comments as “virtual mediation” from afar.
