The cardinal was also questioned on a comment made by Pope Francis to German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a recent audience, when he said it is a "tragic contradiction" to promote unity and persist in war.
Asked if this would be a topic raised in his meeting with Putin, the Vatican Secretary of State stressed that the Church consistently calls on all political leaders "not promote national interests, or in any case, particular interests," but rather to work for "the common good, to respect for international law."
"Not the law of force, but the force of the law," he said, noting that the Church also urges global leaders to make decisions which promote the integral development of man throughout the world, as well as "concord and collaboration among nations."
"And the method is always dialogue," he said, and pointed to a quote from a letter written by St. Augustine in which the saint says that for a true leader, "the greatest title of glory is that of killing war with the word."
In the Latin verb, Cardinal Parolin said, this means "with negotiation, with discussions instead of killing men with the sword, and ensuring that peace is maintained with peace and not with war."
On his meeting with Patriarch Kirill, the cardinal said relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Church would obviously be a big priority, as well as how their respective Churches interact with society in facing the "great spiritual, cultural and political themes of today."
"From this point of view, it's important to seek a positive and open means to continue to weave inter-ecclesial relations and to contribute constructively, on the part of the Churches, to the resolution of the complex problems which afflict and challenge humanity," he said.
"It is my living hope, then, that the encounter may serve for an ever greater awareness, mutual esteem and collaboration between Catholics and Orthodox."
Cardinal Parolin said that while his trip is not intended as a preparation for an eventual visit from Pope Francis, he hopes that "with the help of God," his visit "can offer some contribution in this regard."
Elise Harris was senior Rome correspondent for CNA from 2012 to 2018.