According to Pope Francis, Ukraine should demonstrate bravery in the face of Russia by raising the white flag.
Pope Francis
They mentioned during an interview that Ukraine
Faced with a potential loss, it is important to have the bravery to engage in peace negotiations with Russia and not be afraid to sit at the same table.
The pope issued a plea in a recent interview with the Swiss broadcaster RSI, which was partially revealed on Saturday.
According to Francis, the most powerful individual is someone who carefully evaluates the situation, considers the feelings of others, and possesses the bravery to seek peace through negotiation. He also suggested that negotiations should involve assistance from the international community.
On Sunday, Dmytro Kuleba shared on social media that our flag is composed of yellow and blue. He strongly believes that this flag defines our way of life and we will never change it for any other flag.
Kuleba expressed his gratitude to Pope Francis for consistently praying for peace. He also expressed the desire for the pope to visit Ukraine in order to show support for the large number of Ukrainian Catholics, Greek-Catholics, and all other Christians and Ukrainians.
Numerous European leaders also reacted to the pontiff’s statements.
On social media, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski suggested that Putin be persuaded to show bravery and withdraw his army from Ukraine in order to create balance. According to Sikorski, this would bring about peace without the need for any negotiations.
The German ambassador to the Holy See, Bernhard Kotsch, referred to Russia as the perpetrator of the ongoing conflict and urged Moscow to cease hostilities.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs shared his thoughts on the current state of affairs on social media this Sunday morning. However, he did not explicitly mention either Ukraine or Russia in his post.
Rinkēvičs stated that giving in to evil should not be an option. It must be fought and overcome, causing the evil to surrender and admit defeat.
Russia is becoming stronger in the ongoing war, currently in its third year, while Ukraine is facing a shortage of ammunition. In addition, certain Western allies of Ukraine are cautiously discussing the possibility of deploying troops.
On Saturday, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni clarified that Pope Francis used the term “white flag,” which was previously used by the interviewer. Bruni’s statement came in response to criticism that the pope’s use of the term showed support for Russia in the conflict.
During the conflict, Francis has endeavored to uphold the Vatican’s customary diplomatic neutrality, although this has at times been accompanied by perceived empathy towards Russia’s reasoning for their invasion of Ukraine. For instance, he remarked that NATO’s expansion towards the east was akin to “barking at Russia’s door.”
During the RSI interview, Francis mentioned that “negotiate” is a brave term.
He stated that in times of defeat or unfavorable circumstances, one must find the courage to engage in negotiations. Negotiations should not be viewed as a sign of surrender.
The pope also reiterated that certain nations have expressed willingness to serve as intermediaries in the dispute.
The speaker stated that currently there are several parties interested in mediating the war in Ukraine, such as Turkey. They urged all sides to not hesitate in negotiating before the situation escalates.
The leader of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose country is a member of NATO, has been trying to maintain a friendly relationship with both Ukraine and Russia. During Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s visit on Friday, Erdogan suggested hosting a peace summit between the two nations.
More
Source: cbsnews.com