Vatican and Russia address Guerra in Ukraine after drone attack that killed civilians in Járkov

The Vatican and Russia discuss the war in Ukraine after the drone attack that killed civilians in Járkov

Mons. Paul Gallagher, secretary of the Vatican for relations with international states and organizations, and Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, had a telephone conversation on Friday in which both discussed global relations, according to the Vatican.

The press office of the Holy See indicated that the dialogue between the two Foreign Ministers was dedicated to the “general panorama of world politics”, with “particular attention to the situation of the war in Ukraine” and “some initiatives aimed at stopping military actions.”

The call occurred after at least five Ukrainian civilians died and another 32 people were injured after an attack with a Russian drone hit an apartment building in Kharkiv during the night, according to media reports.

While the president of the United States, Donald Trump, continues his attempts to negotiate a high fire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, both countries have accused each other of continuous attacks on key infrastructure, including energy facilities and hospitals.

In response to the accusations made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Russia does not meet the terms of the agreement backed by the United States, Lavrov said Tuesday that Russia would provide the United States and the United Nations a list of Russian attacks aimed at energy sites, he reported Kyiv Independent.

During Friday’s call, Mons. Gallagher told Lavrov that the Vatican wants to “continue his humanitarian effort in matters related to the exchange of prisoners.”

Last September, Lavrov met with the Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, in New York (United States), while the UN General Assembly session was held.

On September 16, 2024, Cardinal Parolin maintained a videoconference with the human rights commissioner of Russia, Tatyana Moskalkova, and “emphasized the need to safeguard fundamental human rights as described in international conventions.”

He also thanked Moskalkova for his role in achieving the release of two Ukrainian Greco-Catholic priests from prison.

Since 2022, the Holy See has reiterated its call to the liberation of all prisoners of war, to access to humanitarian aid and a high permanent fire between the two European countries.

In addition to geopolitical matters, the Vatican said that the conversation of April 4 between Mons. Gallagher and Lavrov included “issues related to religious life” and the “situation of the Catholic Church in the Russian Federation.”

Translated and adapted by the ACI Press team. Originally published in CNA.