Free Republic

Pope Leo spoke by phone Oct. 16 from Rome’s Gemelli Hospital with Russian President Vladimir Putin, highlighting concern for communities in a Russian-occupied Ukrainian city suffering from worsening food scarcity. “During the conversation, the Holy Father expressed his deep concern about the grave humanitarian situation in the city of Oleshky, in the Kherson region, and called for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of food and medical assistance, and the voluntary and safe evacuation of the civilian population,” the Holy See Press Office stated Oct. 16. While speaking with Putin, Pope Leo also “reaffirmed the Holy See’s commitment to promoting...

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said no one knows how long the war in his country will last but that Ukrainian forces are defying expectations by preventing Russian troops from overrunning eastern Ukraine, where the fighting has been fiercest for weeks. In his nightly video address, Zelensky said he was proud of the Ukrainian defenders managing to hold back the Russian advance in the Donbas region, which borders Russia and where Moscow-backed separatists have controlled much of the territory for eight years.