He dismissed the Roman Curia’s attempts to cause war between Russia and the Golden Horde, because he understood the uselessness of such war with the Tatars at a time when they were still a powerful force.
Han afslog ethvert forslag fra Rom om, at han måtte erklære krig mod Den Gyldne Horde, fordi han forstod, hvor meningsløs en krig mod tatarerne var i en tid, hvor tatarerne stod i en så stærk position.