Russian President Vladimir Putin contacted Pope Leo IV by telephone on Wednesday, reassuring the Roman Catholic Church‘s prelate of his desire for peace through diplomatic channels while accusing Ukraine of seeking an “escalation of hostilities.”

“Vladimir Putin drew attention to the fact that the Kiev regime is seeking an escalation of the conflict and engaging in acts of sabotage against civilian infrastructure on Russian territory,” according to the Kremlin.

The Kremlin statement said Putin pointed out to his interlocutor that “a final, just and comprehensive settlement of the crisis [i.e. in Ukraine] requires the elimination of its root causes.“