Pope has called Putin to request supplies and evacuation for occupied city of Oleshky - Europe live

Key Points:

• Pope Leo XIV, while still recovering from lung surgery, spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin urging a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid and voluntary evacuation in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, Kherson region.
• The Kremlin stated that Putin supported the Vatican’s initiative to ensure safety and organize vital supplies for Oleshky's population, agreeing to cooperate but attributing the humanitarian crisis to Kyiv’s actions.
• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz highlighted ongoing EU budget negotiations, noting significant differences among member states but broad support for a new trade instrument and a German-French deal on automotive industry policy focusing on technology neutrality.
• Merz affirmed a broad consensus within the EU to continue supporting Ukraine financially through the winter and next year, with further discussions planned, while backing Ukraine’s strikes on Russian communication and energy infrastructure as a defensive measure.
• Merz also addressed visa restrictions for Russian citizens traveling to the EU and noted progress on migration issues, emphasizing the need for fiscal consolidation alongside EU budget discussions expected to continue into December.