Vladimir Putin discussed the war in Ukraine with Pope Leo in a telephone call on Wednesday, with the Kremlin claiming the Russian president wanted peace through diplomacy. Putin, however, also claimed “the regime in Kyiv is betting on an escalation of the conflict and carrying out of acts of sabotage against civil infrastructure on Russian territory,

Putin thanked the new pope for his contribution toward resolving the conflict while adding that Ukraine ‘was banking on escalating the conflict.’