I spoke with Pope Leo XIV @Pontifex and wished His Holiness a full and speedy recovery following his surgery. We are grateful that even during this difficult time for him personally, His Holiness remembers Ukraine and prays for our people. I briefed him in detail on the situation with Russian escalation and Russia’s constant strikes on Ukrainian cities and communities. We also discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in temporarily occupied Oleshky. We are working to help our people there. We are preparing decisions. His Holiness informed me about contacts with the Russian side on this matter. Of course, we also discussed all the current security challenges and threats, including the periodic lack of warnings from our partners about Russian ballistic missile attacks – something that has happened three times recently. I thank His Holiness for his support and all his efforts to achieve a dignified peace.

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) October 19, 2026