Ukraine stands firm on national flag, rejects Pope Francis' call for negotiations
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Pope Francis stated in an interview with the Swiss public broadcaster RSI that Ukraine should have the "courage" to negotiate an end to the war with Russia. Reuters agency quoted this interview excerpt. The full interview is set to be broadcast on 20 March.
- I think the stronger is the one who understands the situation, considers the people, and has the courage of the white flag to negotiate, - said the pope. He added that talks should involve international powers. - "Negotiate" is a brave word. When you realise you are defeated, that things are not going well, you must have the courage to negotiate, - the pope emphasised.
"I call for avoiding the repetition of past mistakes"
Francis's words caused considerable outrage internationally. Dmytro Kuleba, the head of Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, also reacted. "Our flag is blue and yellow. It's the flag for which we live, die, and triumph. We will never raise another flag," - he wrote on social media.
"The strongest is the one who, in the battle of good against evil, stands on the side of good instead of attempting to equate them and calling it 'negotiations,'" - Kuleba responded on the X platform.
"Regarding the white flag, we know the Vatican's strategy from the first half of the 20th century. I call for avoiding the repetition of past mistakes and supporting Ukraine and its people in their rightful fight for life," - wrote the Ukrainian foreign minister.
"We thank His Holiness Pope Francis for his continuous prayers for peace, and we still hope that after two years of a devastating war in the heart of Europe, the Pope will find an opportunity to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine to support more than a million Ukrainian Catholics, over five million Greek Catholics, all Christians, and all Ukrainians," - Kuleba appealed in a post published in both English and Ukrainian.
