War in Ukraine puts Russia's Jewish Chabad-Lubavitch community under pressure

Vatican keen to bring Russian and French sherpas to the negotiating table 

After putting out feelers in different European capitals, Pope Francis' team is hoping to bring the French and Russian presidential diplomatic advisers at the Vatican together to discuss Ukraine. The invitation was welcomed by Moscow.

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Parisian PR veterans back Kyiv through #StandWithUkraine 

#StandWithUkraine, a French association headed by two PR professionals with close connections to Kyiv, is heavily involved in the communications and legal side of the war in Ukraine. It has been carrying out a series of public relations operations in Europe.

Russia's religious institutions clash over military draft exemption 

Mobilisation continues to divide Russia's ruling class and, behind it, the country's influential religious groups, who are actively taking part in the political debate on the war. Both the Orthodox Church and the Old Believers are trying to weigh in on discussions through their respective networks.

War in Ukraine: San Marino offers to be Vatican's diplomatic pedestal 

Two consultants, one French, the other Russian, are working to shape and then promote Pope Francis's mediation efforts with Moscow and Kyiv. They would like to see the microstate of San Marino play host to future talks.

Russian Orthodox Church bounces back via Budapest posting 

Russian Patriarch Kirill and his Hungary-based right-hand man Hilarion have taken stock of their faux pas at the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and are manoeuvring on various fronts to try to emerge from their religious and diplomatic isolation.

War in Ukraine: Vatican and Patriarch of Moscow rally their networks 

While the Vatican is trying to position itself as a neutral negotiator between Moscow and Kyiv, the Patriarch of Moscow is looking for ways to counter his own increasing isolation.