Pope Francis said in an interview that Ukraine must have what he called the courage of a “white flag” and negotiate an end to the war with Russia that erupted after Moscow’s full-scale invasion two years ago and has killed tens of thousands of people. people, reports Reuters.

In an interview with the Swiss station RSI, which was given some time ago, Pope Francis was asked what his position was on the debate between those who say that Ukraine should surrender because it has not been able to repel Russian forces, and those who say that it would legitimize the actions of the stronger party. The Pope’s interviewer used the term “white flag” in the question.

“It’s an interpretation, it’s the truth,” Francis said, according to a preliminary transcript of the interview and partial video footage provided to Reuters on Saturday. The interview is scheduled for March 20 as part of the new cultural program.

“But I believe that the strongest is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag and negotiates,” Pope Francis continued, adding that negotiations should take place with the help of international forces.

“The word negotiation is a bold word. When you see that you are being defeated, that things are not going well, you must have the courage to negotiate,” said Pope Francis.

Apparently, in the discussion about the war in Ukraine, Pope Francis uses such terms as “white flag” or “defeated” for the first time, although he has previously spoken about the need for negotiations.

Last year, the 87-year-old Pope sent an emissary of peace, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, to Kiev, Moscow and Washington to check on the leaders of those countries.

“You can feel shame,” Francis said of the talks, “but how many deaths will it (the war) end in? (It should) be negotiated in time to find a country that can mediate,” the Pope added. Francis, mentioning Turkey among the countries that offered to take action in this regard.

“Do not hesitate to negotiate before the worst happens,” urged Pope Francis, who has made hundreds of appeals to what he calls “martyr Ukraine.” When asked if he was ready to mediate, Pope Francis replied: “I am here.”

In another part of the interview, speaking about the war between Israel and Hamas, the sovereign pontiff said: “Negotiations are never surrender.”

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said that since the Russian invasion in February 2022, 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had died and that tens of thousands of civilians had been killed in the occupied territories of the country.

RSI’s interview with Pope Francis was recorded last month, long before the latest offer on Friday by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to hold a summit between Ukraine and Russia to end the war. Erdogan made such a new proposal after a meeting in Istanbul with his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelenskyi.

Zelenskyi’s spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Pope’s comments, Reuters reports.

In Istanbul on Friday, Zelensky reiterated that while he wants peace, he does not want to give up territories, while the message from Moscow is that Russia will not stop until it achieves the goals of the “special military operation” launched on February 24 . 2022 year.

The Ukrainian leader’s own peace plan envisages the withdrawal of Russian troops from the entire territory of Ukraine and the restoration of its state borders. However, the Kremlin ruled out the possibility of peace talks on the terms set by Kyiv.

(news.ro)