Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to Pope Leo XIV by phone on Monday about the war, including the humanitarian crisis in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky, the Kyiv Independent reports.
Around 2,000 people remain in the front-line town in the Kherson region, short of food and medicine. Zelensky said the Pope had told him about his contacts with Moscow on the issue, and that Ukraine was preparing ways to help residents. The call came three days after the Pope proposed a ceasefire in Oleshky in a conversation with Vladimir Putin, who, according to the Kremlin, blamed Ukraine for the situation.
Ukraine's human rights ombudsman said on Sunday that the two sides were close to a deal on a local truce that would let civilians leave directly for Ukrainian-held territory. No agreement has yet been announced.
Source: Kyiv Independent
