Pope says Ukraine should have ‘courage of the white flag’ of negotiations By Reuters

By Philip Pullella

ROME (Reuters) -Pope Francis has mentioned in an interview that Ukraine ought to have what he referred to as the braveness of the “white flag” and negotiate an finish to the conflict with Russia that adopted Moscow’s full-scale invasion two years in the past and that has killed tens of hundreds.

Francis made his feedback in an interview recorded final month with Swiss broadcaster RSI, nicely earlier than Friday’s newest supply by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia to finish the conflict.

Erdogan made the recent supply after a gathering in Istanbul together with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Zelenskiy has mentioned whereas he needs peace he won’t hand over any territory.

The Ukrainian chief’s personal peace plan requires the withdrawal of Russian troops from all of Ukraine and the restoration of its state borders. The Kremlin has dominated out participating in peace talks on phrases set by Kyiv.

A spokesman for Zelenskiy didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the pope’s remarks.

Within the interview Francis was requested for his place on a debate between those that say Ukraine ought to hand over because it has not been capable of repel Russian forces, and those that say doing so would legitimise actions by the strongest social gathering. The interviewer used the time period “white flag” within the query.

“It’s one interpretation, that’s true,” Francis mentioned, in keeping with an advance transcript of the interview and a partial video made obtainable to Reuters on Saturday. It is because of be broadcast on March 20 as a part of a brand new cultural programme.

“However I believe that the strongest one is the one who seems on the state of affairs, thinks concerning the folks and has the braveness of the white flag, and negotiates,” Francis mentioned, including that talks ought to happen with the assistance of worldwide powers.

“The phrase negotiate is a brave phrase. While you see that you’re defeated, that issues usually are not going nicely, it’s a must to have the braveness to barter,” Francis mentioned.

It was believed to be the primary time Francis has used phrases similar to “white flag” or “defeated” in discussing the Ukraine conflict, though he has spoken prior to now concerning the want for negotiations.

In a press release, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni mentioned the pope had picked up on the time period “white flag” spoken by the interviewer and used it “to point a cease to hostilities (and) a truce achieved with the braveness of negotiations”.

Final yr the 87-year-old pope despatched a peace envoy, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, to Kyiv, Moscow and Washington to sound out leaders in these nations.

“One could really feel disgrace,” Francis mentioned about negotiating, “however what number of useless will it (the conflict) find yourself with? (One ought to) negotiate in time, discover a nation that may be a mediator,” Francis mentioned, mentioning Turkey among the many nations that had supplied.

“Don’t be ashamed of negotiating, earlier than issues worsen,” mentioned Francis, who has made a whole bunch of appeals for what he calls “martyred Ukraine”. Requested if he was keen to mediate, Francis mentioned “I’m right here”.

In one other a part of the interview, talking of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, Francis mentioned: “Negotiating is rarely a give up”.

Final month Zelenskiy mentioned that 31,000 Ukrainian troopers had been killed for the reason that Russian invasion in February 2022 and that tens of hundreds of civilians had been killed within the occupied areas of the nation.