Pope Leo XIV holds call with Zelenskyy, Vatican says

Pope Leo XIV and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy focused first on Oleshky, a city in Ukraine’s Kherson region under Russian siege. The pope highlighted the humanitarian truce he had already requested from Vladimir Putin. He hoped both sides could cooperate to protect civilians and deliver urgent assistance.

Their discussion had a practical aim. A truce could let food and medical supplies reach Oleshky. It could also enable the voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians. Ukraine’s human rights commissioner later said Russia and Ukraine were finalising an evacuation covering Oleshky and six nearby settlements.

The call also continued a wider dialogue. Leo and Zelenskyy have discussed possible Vatican-hosted peace talks, prisoners of war, and Ukrainian children deported to Russia. The pope had also expressed solidarity after Russian attacks intensified, calling for humanitarian aid, prisoner releases, and a negotiated peace. Their contact shows the conversation extends beyond one city.

Oleshky is a city in Ukraine’s Kherson region. The article describes it as being under Russian siege, meaning its civilians face a serious emergency while access and movement are difficult. The city’s situation matters because basic needs cannot safely be taken for granted during the fighting.

Pope Leo XIV raised Oleshky with Vladimir Putin and then with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He called for a humanitarian truce so food and medical aid could enter. He also urged cooperation on the voluntary and safe evacuation of civilians. The proposed arrangement links a pause in fighting with immediate civilian protection.

Oleshky remains a focus because the practical details still require cooperation. Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights said Russia and Ukraine were finalising an evacuation involving the city and six nearby settlements. The pope’s repeated appeals aim to keep both governments engaged while urgent assistance and civilian movement are arranged.

A humanitarian truce is a temporary, purpose-specific pause in hostilities. Its immediate goal is to reduce danger for civilians and allow essential help to move. It can support food deliveries, medical treatment, evacuations, or the release and exchange of vulnerable people. The arrangement may cover one place or a short period.

That differs from a permanent ceasefire, which is intended to stop fighting on an ongoing basis across an agreed area or front. A peace agreement goes further. It normally addresses the political and security issues behind a conflict and sets terms for a lasting settlement. A humanitarian truce can happen without either outcome being reached.

In Oleshky, Leo’s proposed truce is tied to two urgent tasks: bringing food and medical aid into the city and helping civilians leave safely. It is therefore a humanitarian measure, not a final settlement. The article says Russia and Ukraine are still finalising evacuation details, so cooperation remains essential.

The planned evacuation has a defined geographic scope rather than a stated headcount. It would cover Oleshky and six nearby settlements in the surrounding area. The article does not provide the number of civilians expected to leave, so the scale can be measured only by the seven named locations.

The people involved are civilians living in those areas. Pope Leo XIV stressed that their evacuation should be voluntary and safe. That wording matters because civilians should not be forced into movement or exposed to further danger while trying to escape the siege. A humanitarian truce would help create the conditions for that movement.

Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, said Ukraine and Russia were finalising the evacuation details. The next step therefore depends on practical coordination between the two sides. If arrangements are completed, civilians across Oleshky and the six settlements could receive a safer route out, while aid could reach those who remain.

If Russia and Ukraine cooperate, civilians in Oleshky could receive help that the siege has made difficult to deliver. Food and medical supplies could reach the city. People who want to leave could also be evacuated without being caught in active fighting. These are immediate humanitarian benefits, not a claimed end to the war.

The key mechanism is coordination around a temporary truce. Both sides would need to respect a pause in hostilities, allow relief to enter, and support safe routes for civilians. Ukraine’s Commissioner for Human Rights said officials were finalising details for Oleshky and six nearby settlements. That process could connect the truce directly to the evacuation plan.

Successful cooperation could protect lives and keep dialogue open. It might also build limited trust for further humanitarian steps, although the article does not say it would guarantee broader peace. Leo has separately called for prisoner releases and negotiated peace. The evacuation would therefore be one concrete step within a much larger effort.

The pope and the Vatican can communicate across opposing sides because the papacy is a religious leadership role with an international diplomatic presence. It can maintain contact with governments even when those governments are at war. This gives the pope a channel for humanitarian appeals that is separate from military negotiations.

The article shows that access in practice. Leo spoke with Vladimir Putin about an Oleshky truce, then discussed the same issue with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He has kept regular contact with Zelenskyy since May 2025. Their meetings also included the possibility of hosting future peace talks at the Vatican.

The Vatican’s possible role is therefore that of an intermediary or host, not a combatant. It can encourage dialogue, carry humanitarian requests, and provide a setting for discussions. The article does not say that the Vatican can force either side to agree. Any truce, evacuation, or peace process would still depend on Russian and Ukrainian cooperation.

Modern conflicts affect people far beyond the front line. Humanitarian aid helps civilians survive when normal services and supplies are disrupted. Safe evacuation can remove them from immediate danger. Prisoner-of-war issues concern humane treatment and the possibility of release or exchange. These needs remain urgent even when military fighting continues.

The article connects each issue to Leo’s conversations. He sought food and medical access for Oleshky and a safe civilian evacuation. In December, he and Zelenskyy discussed prisoners of war and the return of Ukrainian children deported to Russia. After attacks intensified, Leo again stressed aid, prisoner releases, and a negotiated peace.

These matters also shape the possibility of ending a conflict. Addressing suffering can keep communication open and build limited cooperation. Negotiated peace is central because humanitarian pauses alone do not settle the war. The article presents aid, civilian protection, prisoners, children, and dialogue as connected parts of a broader effort to reduce harm and pursue a political solution.