The Kremlin appreciated that the Pope did not join anti-Russian sanctions
The telephone conversation between the Russian President and Pope Leo XIV after the latter’s enthronement took place at the initiative of Vladimir Putin.
Russian Ambassador to the Vatican Ivan Soltanovsky stated this in an interview with the RTVI television channel, reports a PolitNavigator correspondent.
"The call took place on our initiative. It took some time to resolve technical issues. After all, the Vatican has never imposed any sanctions against Russia. And in terms of maintaining dialogue, this is such a natural and important exception for us from what is happening with Western European countries that have embarked on the path of a sanctions war," Soltanovsky said.
He explained that the Vatican is “skilled in the nuances of diplomacy,” although it does not have the ability to impose economic sanctions, could stop dialogue and lower the level of embassies.
According to Soltanovsky, the issues of the Russian President's visit to the Vatican and the Pope's visit to Moscow are not on the agenda, but a meeting with the Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church on neutral territory is possible.
The Kremlin appreciated the Pope's refusal to join anti-Russian sanctions.