Vatican Envoy Meets Russian Foreign Minister in Moscow Amid Diplomatic Push Over Ukraine

Vatican envoy Paul Gallagher met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow to discuss potential paths toward peace in Ukraine. Following the meeting, Gallagher, who represents Pope Leo XIV, stated that the Ukrainian war must end and noted that he and Lavrov discussed avenues for pursuing a lasting and just peace in the region. The diplomatic talks in Moscow coincide with broader international actions surrounding the conflict. UK Prime Minister is set to join a delegation of leaders lobbying US President Donald Trump to step up supplies of US-made Patriot missiles following pleas from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Andy Burnham is planning a trip to New York in connection with Ukraine's requests for the missiles, prompting the Kremlin to accuse Burnham of wanting to continue the war. Additionally, a US military plane landed in Moscow. According to Reuters, the last instance of a US jet flying from Europe to Russia occurred in January, when special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow to hold peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.