Vatican foreign minister meets with Sergei Lavrov in Moscow to discuss Ukraine conflict

On August 25, 2026, Vatican Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow. This encounter marks the first direct high-level diplomatic talks between the Holy See and Russian officials in five years, as Gallagher last visited Moscow for negotiations with Lavrov in 2021, prior to the outbreak of the war.

During a joint press conference following the talks, Archbishop Gallagher urged for an immediate end to the conflict in Ukraine, emphasizing that each day of fighting creates new victims and hinders future reconciliation. The Vatican representative stressed that it is urgent to move beyond the current state of conflict. Both officials reached an agreement to cooperate on humanitarian matters, specifically focusing on the welfare of children affected by the war.

The meeting serves as a significant diplomatic engagement, with both parties discussing potential paths toward peace. While the talks focused on humanitarian cooperation and the cessation of hostilities, the ongoing investigation into the conflict's resolution remains a priority for the Vatican. The Holy See continues to advocate for a peaceful settlement to the crisis as the war enters its later stages.