Pope says he hopes renewed Ukraine peace talks will produce concrete results

Pope Leo XIV has expressed hope that renewed efforts to restart negotiations over the Russia-Ukraine war will bring peace closer, as US presidential envoys engage with officials in Moscow and Kyiv.

“My heart is united with the suffering of the people of Ukraine, who have lived in anguish and fear for years. I renew my appeal to put an end to the violence, halt the destruction, and open hearts to dialogue and peace! I hope that the efforts undertaken in recent days to resume negotiations will bear concrete fruit and make room for diplomacy,” the Pope wrote on social media.

Leo XIV called in August for an end to the war and a halt to attacks on civilian targets by both sides. He also appealed for peace in Ukraine during his first Christmas address.

Talks with US presidential special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who had previously travelled to Moscow, were underway in Kyiv on Sept. 6. The first round involving the two envoys and the Ukrainian delegation has ended. National security advisers from France, the United Kingdom and Germany are expected to take part in the next round.

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My heart is united with the suffering of the people of Ukraine, who have lived in anguish and fear for years. I renew my appeal to put an end to the violence, halt the destruction, and open hearts to dialogue and peace! I hope that the efforts undertaken in recent days to resume negotiations will bear concrete fruit and make room for diplomacy.