In August, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Vatican's top diplomat, visited Moscow for four days to meet with Russian officials about the ongoing war in Ukraine. During his trip, Gallagher held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Vladimir Putin’s top advisor, Yuri Ushakov. The visit took place amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West, which have largely cut off diplomatic ties with Moscow. This was Gallagher’s first official trip to Russia since 2021, before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While most Western nations have broken all relations with Russia, the Vatican continues to engage with all countries, maintaining what it calls a "diplomacy of bridges." The Vatican's strategy emphasizes dialogue and peace, even with countries that are internationally isolated. While it does not aim to negotiate an end to the war directly, this approach has led to humanitarian efforts, such as recent prisoner exchanges. Jean-Baptiste Noé, a historian and editor of the magazine Conflits, explains that the Vatican believes maintaining communication with all nations is essential, even when disagreements exist. However, some critics have called the Vatican’s engagement with Russia "shameful," arguing it gives legitimacy to the Russian government. Historically, the Vatican and Russia have had a complicated relationship. In a country where most people are Orthodox Christians, Catholicism has not always been welcomed. During the Tsarist era, Catholics faced persecution, and this continued under the Soviet regime. Despite efforts to improve relations in the early 2000s, the war in Ukraine has strained ties further, especially after the Russian Orthodox Church’s leader, Patriarch Kirill, aligned closely with the government. This has made interreligious dialogue more difficult. The Vatican’s diplomatic tradition dates back centuries. In 2026, the Holy See maintained formal relations with 184 countries, plus the European Union and the Order of Malta. Only a few nations, like Afghanistan and North Korea, do not have formal ties with the Vatican. Jean-Baptiste Noé points out that the Vatican is often credited with pioneering modern diplomacy, with its Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy training diplomats since the 17th century. During Gallagher’s visit, the Vatican’s representative called for "real negotiations" between Russia and Ukraine, stressing that "this war must end." The Vatican has been actively involved in efforts to repatriate Ukrainian children taken by Russian forces and to organize prisoner exchanges since the war began. These efforts are ongoing, and Noé suggests that agreements could be reached within a few months. Meanwhile, the arrival of the CIA director in Moscow was viewed as a coincidence by Noé, as Gallagher’s trip had been planned in advance. The Vatican’s continued engagement suggests that Moscow may be open to some form of dialogue. Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, the Vatican’s special envoy for Ukraine, is set to visit Moscow again in early September, following previous trips in 2023 and 2024. Whether these efforts will lead to broader political negotiations remains uncertain.