Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem has received Vladimir Putin's support regarding mediation efforts on Ukraine

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, who had previously met with U.S. President Donald Trump, secured the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin in his efforts to act as a mediator in resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. According to the Orthodox Times, the meeting between the two leaders took place at the Kremlin, where the Russian head of state awarded the patriarch the Order of Friendship for his contribution to strengthening spiritual and cultural ties.

During the official portion of the visit, Theophilos III expressed his admiration for the Russian president, noting that he prays daily for his health and inspiration in addressing the challenges before him. The Patriarch emphasized that he is ready to make every effort to achieve peace “among brothers.” For his part, Vladimir Putin reaffirmed the importance of cooperation with the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem and assured that Russia has traditionally placed great emphasis on protecting Christians in the Holy Land.

As a reminder, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem had previously announced his intention to act as a mediator to end the conflict in Ukraine. The primate stated that he plans to hold talks with the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to help overcome the ecclesiastical schism and stop the bloodshed.