The cardinal Paul Richard Gallagher, head of Vatican diplomacy, delivered a direct message to Russia after meeting this Tuesday in Moscow with the Russian Foreign Minister, Serguéi Lavrov.
"Let's be clear, the war must end. The longer the conflict continues, the harder it will be to achieve an appropriate solution," Gallagher conveyed to the Russian chancellor.
The meeting, held in Moscow, is the first in-person encounter between a senior Vatican official and Russian authorities since 2021, prior to the start of the invasion of Ukraine. Although Gallagher had spoken with Lavrov by phone in 2025, Tuesday's face-to-face meeting marks a significant escalation in the diplomatic efforts of the Holy See.
In a joint press conference reported by EFE, Gallagher emphasized that he conveyed to Lavrov the call from Pope León XIV to "end hostilities in order to begin genuine negotiations with the support of the international community."
"The position of the Holy See is clear: the conflict cannot be resolved by military means. It is essential to create the conditions for a political and diplomatic process," stated the cardinal, who also urged both sides to "show openness and good will" so that dialogue can become a reality as soon as possible.
Gallagher also urged Russia and Ukraine to respect international and humanitarian law, particularly regarding civilians, infrastructure, and the treatment of the wounded and prisoners of war.
Lavrov, for his part, described the conversation as "very useful" and thanked the Vatican for its "balanced stance" on the conflict. He also announced Russia's willingness to resume political contacts with the Holy See at the level of deputy foreign ministers.
Gallagher's visit to the Russian capital, which runs from August 24 to 28, also includes a meeting with Metropolitan Antonio of Volokolamsk from the Moscow Patriarchate, and a scheduled meeting this Wednesday with Yuri Ushakov, advisor to President Putin on foreign policy.
This mission in Moscow comes weeks after Gallagher traveled to Kyiv in July, where he met with Ukrainian leaders who invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the country. In recent weeks, the pontiff has condemned the deaths of civilians from both sides.
Since León XIV assumed the papacy in May 2025, the Vatican has intensified its mediating role.
The pope received Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski on three occasions —in May, July, and December 2025— and offered the Holy See as a venue for negotiations between the parties.
The Vatican had already served as a venue for direct contact between Washington and Kiev.
On April 26, 2025, Donald Trump and Zelenski held a brief private meeting at St. Peter's Basilica, prior to the funeral of Pope Francis, during which they discussed efforts to end the war. The meeting gained particular significance as it took place following the tense meeting the two had at the White House in February of that year.
He also met with U.S. Vice President, JD Vance, and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in May 2025. Rubio returned to the Vatican in May 2026 to coordinate diplomatic efforts with Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Gallagher himself.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has held multiple meetings with Zelenski throughout 2025 and 2026, including a meeting at the White House in July of this year, without reaching a definitive peace agreement. In May 2026, there was a ceasefire lasting only three days —from May 9 to May 11— but the conflict continued.
Russia's announcement to resume political contacts with the Vatican at the level of deputy ministers opens a diplomatic channel that has been nonexistent since before the war, although the path toward a negotiated peace remains uncertain more than four years after the start of the invasion.
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