A spokesperson for Russia’s foreign ministry has acknowledged the Vatican’s role in mediating the return of more than a dozen Russian soldiers in two recent prisoner exchanges with Ukraine.
In a Jan. 23 press conference, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s press director, Maria Zakharova, praised Pope Francis’ position on the Russia-Ukraine War and the concrete humanitarian results of cooperation between Russia and the Holy See.
“With the active personal participation of the pope’s special envoy for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, Cardinal M[atteo] Zuppi, 16 wounded servicemen of our country’s armed forces returned to Russia as part of two recently completed Russian-Ukrainian prisoner of war exchanges,” Zakharova said.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged nearly 400 prisoners of war in deals brokered by the United Arab Emirates in late December and mid-January.
“We expect to continue constructive cooperation with the Vatican on humanitarian issues,” the foreign ministry spokesperson said.
While criticizing “the West” for having “provoked” the conflict with Ukraine, Zakharova added that “the balanced, verified position of the Vatican and Pope Francis personally, who is striving to make his contribution to the settlement of this acute crisis, stands out favorably.”
Zuppi visited Moscow in October 2024 to meet with Russian authorities as part of the peace mission entrusted to him by Pope Francis beginning in May 2023.
It was Zuppi’s second trip to Moscow since the war in Ukraine began. Zuppi also visited the Russian capital for 48 hours in June 2023 in which he discussed humanitarian initiatives with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill as well as government officials, including Yuri Ushakov, a foreign policy adviser to President Vladimir Putin.
While serving as Pope Francis’ peace envoy, Zuppi has made several other diplomatic visits across the world to promote peace between Russia and Ukraine, including stops in Kyiv, Beijing, and Washington, D.C.
