Overview

• Pope Leo XIV met Ukrainian President Volodímir Zelenski at Castel Gandolfo on July 9 to reiterate the Vatican’s readiness to host peace negotiations with Russia.
• The Holy See’s official statement underscored the urgency of just and lasting peace while expressing sorrow for victims and urging the release of prisoners.
• Ukraine opened the IV International Recovery Conference in Rome on July 10 to secure investment pledges exceeding €10 billion for postconflict reconstruction.
• Russian forces launched their largest single-day aerial assault since 2022, deploying 741 drones and missiles against Ukrainian territory.
• Russian human rights ombudsperson Tatiana Moskalkova has appealed to Pope Leo XIV for assistance in repatriating Russian citizens detained in Ukraine.