Content of the phone call between President Putin and Pope Leo XIV

RT quoted information from the Kremlin saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pope Leo XIV had a "constructive" phone call on June 4, discussing a number of issues, including the Ukraine conflict.

Russian President Putin told Pope Leo XIV that Ukraine was deliberately escalating the conflict by targeting civilian infrastructure on Russian territory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Sputnik.

"Amid the resumption of direct negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, the Ukrainian side is escalating the conflict, carrying out acts of sabotage against civilian infrastructure on Russian territory," the Kremlin chief said, referring to recent acts of sabotage against railways in the Bryansk and Kursk regions (Russia).

President Putin affirmed that Moscow is interested in resolving the conflict through political and diplomatic means, but stressed that the roots of the problem need to be addressed to ensure lasting peace.

Speaking about the progress made in the latest round of direct negotiations between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul (Türkiye) on June 2, President Putin said the two sides had agreed on the exchange of prisoners of war and the bodies of soldiers.

"Russia is doing everything possible to ensure that children separated from their families during the conflict are reunited with their loved ones," Putin said.

The Russian president also thanked Pope Leo XIV for his willingness to resolve the crisis as well as the Holy See's role in mediating urgent humanitarian issues between Moscow and Kiev.

President Putin and the Pope also agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and step up efforts to protect Christians around the world .

>>> Readers are invited to watch a video about the second round of direct Russia-Ukraine negotiations in Istanbul