Ukraine on Sunday, the 10th of March, condemned Pope Francis’ call for talks to end the war with Russia, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the pontiff was engaging in “virtual mediation” and Foreign Minister Kuleba saying Kyiv would never capitulate, reports Reuters.
Pope Francis said that when a party in a conflict is doing badly, it should show “white flag courage” and engage in negotiations. Although this is the first time Pope Francis has used terms such as “white flag” or “defeat” when referring to the war in Ukraine, the Pope has also mentioned the need to negotiate in the past.
Without naming Francis directly or mentioning his comments, in his video address last night, Zelenskyy mentioned religious people who are helping Ukraine.
“They support us with prayers, discussions and deeds. It is the church that stands with the people,” said Zelenskyy. “Not 2 500 km away, somewhere as a virtual mediator between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy you.”
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X that the strongest man in any dispute “takes the good side instead of trying to put everyone in the same line and calling them ‘negotiations’”.
“Our flag is yellow and blue,”
Kuleba wrote, referring to the national flag of Ukraine. “It is the flag under which we live, die and win. We will never raise other flags.”
Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Eastern Rite Catholic Church in Ukraine, also condemned Pope Francis’ comments, affirming Ukraine’s resilience. “Ukraine is wounded, but not defeated! Ukraine is tired, but it stands and will stand,” Shevchuk said, stressing that no one is thinking of surrendering.
European officials, who support Ukraine’s efforts, condemned the Pope’s latest comments.
“Perhaps, for the sake of balance, we should encourage Putin to dare to withdraw his troops from Ukraine?” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote on X.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs also wrote on X:
“Evil must not capitulate in face of evil, one must fight it and defeat it, so that the evil raises the white flag and capitulates.”
My Sunday morning take: One must not capitulate in face of evil, one must fight it and defeat it, so that the evil raises the white flag and capitulates
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) March 10, 2024
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