Pope Leo XIV hopes Witkoff and Kushner visits revive Ukraine peace talks

Pope Leo XIV expressed hope that recent diplomatic contacts involving US President's representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will help resume the negotiation process and bring closer the end of Russia's war against Ukraine. The pontiff wrote on social media platform X that he sympathizes with Ukrainians who have lived for years under conditions of war, fear, and destruction. He again called for a cessation of hostilities and the creation of conditions for a diplomatic settlement, expressing hope that efforts made in recent days to resume talks will yield concrete results. On September 5, Witkoff and Kushner visited Moscow, where they met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. The following day, the American representatives arrived in Kyiv for talks with the Ukrainian side and European partners, agreeing to continue contacts on possible diplomatic steps toward ending the war and achieving a just peace.