Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed humanitarian issues related to the conflict in Ukraine with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced, as quoted by Reuters and BTA.
“The parties noted the constructive development of the dialogue between Russia and the Vatican on state and church relations, as well as joint actions in the humanitarian sphere in the context of the Ukrainian crisis“, the statement published last night said.“
The Russian Foreign Ministry added that Lavrov and Parolin discussed “the causes of the geopolitical crisis, which is a direct consequence of the consistent anti-Russian policies of Western countries“.
The meeting between Lavrov and Parolin took place in New York during this year's session of the UN General Assembly.
A papal envoy visited Kiev and Moscow as part of an initiative to return Ukrainian children who Ukrainian authorities claim were deported from Russia.
Pope Francis has repeatedly called for peace and expressed regret about the loss of human lives in the conflict, Reuters notes.