Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during a meeting with Vatican Secretary for Relations with States Paul Richard Gallagher in Moscow that the two sides had managed to maintain a dialogue based on mutual trust and respect despite global crises. The humanitarian dimension of the conflict in Ukraine and efforts to find a diplomatic solution were among the key issues discussed.
“We Have Managed to Maintain Meaningful Dialogue”
Speaking after the meeting, Lavrov said that despite the turmoil in the world, communication between Russia and the Vatican based on trust and mutual respect had continued.
He stated that this dialogue enabled both sides to seek positive and viable solutions to various issues, emphasizing the importance of contacts between Moscow and the Vatican.
Gallagher also stressed the need for both sides to keep communication channels open despite all the challenges. Saying that diplomacy and dialogue were more important than ever in the current complex international environment, Gallagher thanked Lavrov for the invitation to Moscow.
The Vatican’s Role in the Humanitarian Process in Ukraine
One of the main topics of the meeting was the humanitarian dimension of the conflict in Ukraine.
Lavrov said that the Vatican had taken an active role in addressing humanitarian issues arising from the conflict in Ukraine, particularly noting that cases involving children were “extremely sensitive.”
He stated that Russia was ready to continue cooperation with the Vatican in this area. Lavrov also expressed hope that the Vatican would draw attention to the Ukrainian government’s actions toward the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
Gallagher, meanwhile, said that the Vatican supported dialogue aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine and remained committed to keeping communication channels open with Russia.
Lavrov Comments on the Starobelsk Attack
At a press conference following the meeting, Lavrov also addressed what he described as an attack by Ukraine on a student dormitory at a vocational college in Starobelsk, Luhansk region, on May 22, 2026.
Referring to the incident, in which 21 people were reportedly killed and more than 40 injured, Lavrov said Russia would not forget the attack and would continue efforts to ensure that those responsible were brought to justice.
Lavrov also accused Ukraine of being behind attacks that took place on the night of August 23 in the Krasnodar region, the Republic of Adygea, and Dagestan. He claimed that civilians and children were killed in the attacks, and recalled that civilians, including children, had previously been killed in a drone attack on Nizhnekamsk.
The meeting between Moscow and the Vatican is notable as an indication that diplomatic and humanitarian contacts are continuing amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
