Cardinal Matteo Zuppi has been granted permission to visit Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia

Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican’s special envoy and president of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, was granted permission to visit Ukrainian prisoners of war during a diplomatic visit to Moscow. The visit was part of broader negotiations aimed at resolving the humanitarian aspects of the ongoing conflict.

During his visit, Cardinal Zuppi held meetings with Yuri Ushakov, the Russian President’s aide on foreign policy, and representatives of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The parties discussed a wide range of issues, including the prospects for a peaceful settlement, the exchange of prisoners of war, and the fate of displaced children. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted that the meeting confirmed the constructive nature of the dialogue between Moscow and the Vatican and demonstrated the parties’ readiness for further humanitarian cooperation.

Special attention was paid during the talks to the humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky in the Kherson region. Representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine hold opposing positions regarding the living conditions of the civilian population in this region: the Russian side claims that Ukraine is blocking the delivery of resources, while Ukrainian officials accuse Russian troops of obstructing the evacuation of civilians.

This diplomatic mission coincided with renewed calls from the Pope for an immediate start to negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The Pontiff, , expressed concern over the escalation of hostilities and the rhetoric surrounding the use of nuclear weapons. It should be noted that Matteo Zuppi’s previous trip to the Russian capital took place in October 2024, underscoring the systematic nature of the Vatican’s efforts to find ways to de-escalate the conflict.