Putin told Pope Leo he backs Vatican idea to help civilians in Oleshky, Kremlin says — Live Feedhttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/putin-told-pope-leo-he-backs-vatican-idea-to-help-civilians-in-oleshky-kremlin-saysContinuously updated, source-cited coverage. Putin Backs Vatican Plan to Help Oleshky Civilianshttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/putin-told-pope-leo-he-backs-vatican-idea-to-help-civilians-in-oleshky-kremlin-sayshttps://www.live-feeds.com/feed/putin-told-pope-leo-he-backs-vatican-idea-to-help-civilians-in-oleshky-kremlin-says#u142965Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:47:29 +0000Russian President Vladimir Putin told Pope Leo during a phone call that he supports a Vatican initiative to deliver supplies to civilians in the Russian-controlled town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine. Putin stated he is ready to cooperate on the matter. The pontiff spoke with the Russian leader from a hospital, where he was recovering from surgery. Pope Leo also discussed humanitarian aid and evacuations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, urging cooperation between Ukraine and Russia.Why it mattersThe diplomatic outreach from the pontiff comes while he remains hospitalized following