Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to cooperate after Pope Leo asked him on Friday to help get vital supplies into the Russian-controlled Ukrainian town of Oleshky, the Kremlin said in a statement reported by Reuters.
During a phone call, Pope Leo asked Putin to arrange a ceasefire to allow aid and food into the town, which was taken by Russian forces in Feuary 2022. The Vatican stated that the pope expressed "deep concern" over the humanitarian situation, as residents have reported a deepening food crisis.
The Kremlin's statement supported "the Vatican’s intention to help create the conditions necessary to ensure the safety of the town’s population and to organise vital supplies." While the statement did not mention a ceasefire, it added, "It has been agreed to cooperate on this matter."
The situation in Oleshky is dire. Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of blocking supplies to the town, which is located in the Kherson region and remains a target for Ukrainian forces seeking to retake it.
According to the head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, the town's pre-war population was around 24,000, but now only about 1,700 residents, including 47 children, remain.
The call was initiated by the 71-year-old pope, who is currently recovering in a Rome hospital after surgery for lung cancer, the Vatican said. The Kremlin noted that Putin wished the pontiff a speedy recovery. This was the second known phone conversation between the two leaders.
Source: Reuters
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