Pope Calls Putin From Hospital, Urges Aid for Occupied Oleshky
Pope Leo XIV asks Russia to allow food and medicine into Oleshky and permit civilian evacuation.
KEY POINTS
- Pope Leo XIV called Vladimir Putin from the hospital on Friday.
- The pope requested a ceasefire for aid delivery and civilian evacuation from Oleshky.
- The Kremlin said Putin supports the Vatican initiative and Russia is ready to cooperate.
- Ukraine accuses Russia of blocking food and medicine supplies.
- About 1,700 people, including 47 children, remain in Oleshky according to the UN.
Pope Leo XIV telephoned Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday while recovering from lung surgery performed earlier in the week. The Vatican said the pope expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Oleshky, a city in Ukraine's Kherson region under Russian control.
The pontiff requested an immediate ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical supplies and to enable the voluntary, safe evacuation of civilians.
The Kremlin responded that Putin supports the Vatican initiative and that Russia is ready to cooperate in implementing it. Moscow acknowledged serious problems delivering food and medicine but blamed the Ukrainian side for blocking shipments.
Ukraine accuses Russia of obstructing supplies to the population. Ukrainian forces are attempting to retake the city, which had about 24,000 residents before the war.
According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, approximately 1,700 people remain in Oleshky, including 47 children.
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