Vatican Envoy Discusses Humanitarian Issues, Visits POWs in Russia, Foreign Ministry Says

By Reuters Sep. 30, 2026 Cardinal Matteo Zuppi Vatican Media Papal envoy Cardinal Matteo Zuppi discussed humanitarian issues in the Ukraine war in talks with Russian officials and visited Ukrainian prisoners of war, Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Zuppi's three days of talks coincided with an appeal by Pope Leo to Russia and Ukraine to sit down and discuss how to end the four-year war. The pontiff also decried national leaders who he said were "beginning to speak about nuclear weapons and wars that are becoming ever more destructive." The Foreign Ministry said Zuppi met Kremlin foreign policy aide Yury Ushakov and other Russian officials and discussed prospects for a settlement as well as humanitarian issues, including prisoner of war exchanges and displaced children. The statement said Zuppi, head of the Italian bishops ​conference, also discussed conditions in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in Ukraine's Kherson region, where Ukrainian officials said Kyiv's military used drones last weekend to deliver food and medicine to civilians. The Foreign Ministry statement said Ukraine was blocking all attempts to provide supplies to the town's residents. Ukrainian officials say Russian forces are preventing them from leaving the town. The ministry statement said Zuppi was permitted to visit prisoners of war and "was personally able to talk with Ukrainians and see for himself that Russia strictly follows all the relevant humanitarian standards." It said the visit "confirmed the constructive and regular nature of the Russian-Vatican dialogue and the willingness of both sides to continue cooperating on humanitarian issues." Zuppi last ​visited ⁠Moscow in October 2024 to discuss prospects for ending the war launched by Russia's 2022 invasion of ⁠its ​neighbor. Zuppi has also ​held talks in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr ​Zelensky. Read more about: Religion , Foreign Ministry , Ukraine war , Diplomacy 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 Hungary Summons Russian Ambassador After Drone Attacks on Western Ukraine Authorities in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia region described the attacks as the most intense Russian aerial assault since the 2022 invasion. 1 Min read China’s Foreign Minister to Discuss Ukraine War Talks During Visit to Russia Next Week Russia's Foreign Ministry said discussions would cover bilateral relations and high-level contacts, including "at the highest level." 2 Min read Training the ‘Warriors of Victory’: Russian Orthodox Church Marks 3 Years of War in Ukraine On the war’s third anniversary, the Church commemorated the date with militarized worship and events across the country. 5 Min read Ukraine Finds 'Propaganda' at Russia-Linked Orthodox Sites Ukraine's SBU security service on Wednesday found "propaganda literature" in counter-intelligence searches in churches and monasteries across the country...