Senior Vatican Official Calls for Peace in Ukraine After Meeting With Lavrov in Moscow

By Reuters Aug. 25, 2026 Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher and Sergei Lavrov give a press conference on Aug. 25, 2026. REUTERS / Ramil Sitdikov / Pool A senior Vatican official called for an end to the war in Ukraine after meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Tuesday. Archbishop Paul Gallagher, whose position at the Vatican is analogous to a foreign minister, said that as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, it "creates new victims ... and renders future reconciliation ever more difficult." "It is therefore urgent and necessary to end and to look beyond the conflict," Gallagher said, speaking alongside Lavrov at a joint press conference following their meeting. He also said that he and Lavrov had discussed avenues toward peace in Ukraine and that the two had agreed to cooperate on humanitarian matters such as caring for children impacted by the war. Gallagher, the Vatican's second-highest diplomatic official, last visited Moscow for talks with Lavrov in 2021, the year before President Vladimir Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Pope Leo has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict. In an appeal earlier this month, he lamented the "ever-growing number of civilian victims, including children," as a result of the war in Ukraine. Gallagher said Tuesday that the Vatican would "continue to provide strong spiritual, diplomatic and humanitarian support by contributing to and offering a space for dialogue" to end the conflict. Read more about: Lavrov , Vatican , Ukraine war Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more North Korea Says It Will Stand by Russia Until ‘Victory’ Over Ukraine “We repeat that we will always stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day,” North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui said. 2 Min read Vatican Peace Envoy Meets Russian Foreign Minister in Moscow Cardinal Matteo Zuppi was expected to discuss efforts to bring home children forcibly taken to Russia and prisoner exchanges. 1 Min read Lavrov Lashed Out at Ukraine War Criticism at Jakarta Talks – EU Top Diplomat Russia's foreign minister said "everything is a 'West conspiracy' and the war will continue," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said. 1 Min read Russia’s Goals in Ukraine No Longer Solely Focused on the East – Lavrov “If Western countries supply long-range weapons to Ukraine, [these goals] will move even further.”