Russian President Vladimir Putin offered no concessions during his first phone call with Pope Leo XIV on 5 June, while claiming Russia seeks a political and diplomatic resolution to the war in Ukraine, according to a report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The ISW reports that the Kremlin continues to present itself as ready for “good-faith” talks while refusing to offer any concessions. During the 5 June call with Pope Leo XIV, Putin blamed Ukraine for escalating the war and stated Russia favors a peaceful resolution through “political and diplomatic means.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that Putin thanked the Pope for the Vatican’s willingness to contribute to ending the war.

However, ISW notes that Putin did not offer any shift in Russia’s position. Instead, the Kremlin readout stated that any resolution must address the war’s “root causes” — a phrase the Kremlin regularly uses to shift blame to Ukraine for Russia’s invasion.

Kremlin repeats long-standing narratives

ISW highlights that Russian officials continue to define the war’s “root causes” as NATO’s supposed breach of commitments not to expand eastward and Ukraine’s alleged mistreatment of Russian-speaking minorities. These justifications, the report notes, have been part of Russia’s rhetoric since the start of the invasion.

Despite speaking of diplomacy, ISW stresses that Russia has made no moves to soften its core conditions, which amount to Ukraine’s total capitulation.

On 3 June, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairperson Dmitry Medvedev stated that Russia seeks a “swift victory” and the “complete destruction” of Ukraine’s government. ISW cites this as further evidence that Moscow remains “uninterested in good faith peace negotiations and a near-term resolution to the war that does not acquiesce to its demands.“

“Putin’s conversation with the Pope is likely part of the Kremlin’s ongoing effort to protract negotiations by falsely portraying Russia as interested in meaningful peace negotiations and improve Russia’s negotiating position by making additional battlefield gains,” ISW wrote.