Ukraine and some of its allies criticized Pope Francis on Sunday after the pontiff said Kyiv should have the “courage” to initiate peace talks with Russia.
“I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates,” Francis said in an interview last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI that was released in part on Saturday. “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate. Negotiations are never a surrender.”
International powers should be brought in to assist, Francis continued, telling Ukraine there is no shame in sitting down at the same table with its oppressor.
But the term “white flag” was widely interpreted as a call for Ukraine to surrender as Russia continues its invasion, Ukraine runs low on ammo and U.S. aid remains held up in Congress.
“The strongest is the one who, in the battle between good and evil, stands on the side of good rather than attempting to put them on the same footing and call it ‘negotiations,'” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba posted on X.
Allies said Ukrainian resistance was the only thing standing between the besieged nation and worse violence from Russia.
“How about, for balance, encouraging Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine?” Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said on X. “Peace would immediately ensue without the need for negotiations.”
“Ukraine is exhausted, but it stands and will endure,” Ukraine Greek Catholic Church Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk said Sunday as he met with Ukrainians in New York City. “Believe me, it never crosses anyone’s mind to surrender.”
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni insisted Saturday that Francis was calling for “a cessation of hostilities, a truce reached with the courage of negotiation” — and not surrender.
With News Wire Services
