Kremlin views Pope's Ukraine peace call as sensible, amidst negotiation reluctance

The Pope's comments on Swiss radio and television initiated a flurry of reactions. Among other statements, Francis remarked: "The strongest is the one who assesses the situation, thinks of the nation, and has the courage to show the white flag and negotiate. Today, negotiation can be facilitated with the help of international powers. The word 'negotiate' is courageous" - as quoted by PAP. The most contentious point was the reference to the "white flag", commonly acknowledged as a sign of surrender.

Ukraine dismissed the Pope's call on Sunday. President Volodymyr Zelensky commented that the head of the Church is engaging in "virtual mediation". Contrary to this, a representative of the Russian government has a different view. "It's quite understandable that the Pope chose negotiations," Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, informed journalists, as reported by Reuters.

Peskov highlighted that the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, has often spoken about Russia's willingness to engage in talks, but Kyiv has turned down peace proposals. "Unfortunately, both the statements from the Pope and repetitive remarks from other sides, including ours, have recently been met with an outright rejection," Peskov noted.

The Kremlin spokesperson believes Ukraine's aversion to negotiations stems from a mistaken belief that the West can conquer Russia. Peskov claimed that the developments on the battlefield suggest a different outcome. "It represents the deepest misunderstanding, the gravest error, and the events, especially on the battlefield, serve as the most conclusive evidence of this," he stated.

Source: Reuters Agency, PAP, WP News