Ukraine Slams Pope Francis for Urging Kyiv to Wave 'White Flag' in War Against Russia

Vatican City – Amid ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, He of Catholic Church, Pope Francis, said that Ukraine should have “courage” to negotiate end to war with Russia and “wave white flag”. comments from Vatican sovereign immediately attracted major backlash from Ukraine and its allies. According to CBS News, pope me this controversial appeal during an interview with Swiss brocaster RSI, which was recorded last month and was partially released on Saturday. Shortly after release of interview, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba condemned pontiff's statements. 

"I think that strongest one is one who looks at situation, thinks about people and has courage of white flag, and negotiates," Francis said, ding that talks should take place with help of international powers, CBS News reported. In past, Ukraine has maintained that it will not engage directly with Russia for peace talks until “just peace” is ensured in region. In response to Pope's comment, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba thanked Pope for “constantly praying for peace” but maintained that only flag Ukraine will be waving is ir own country's flag. 

“ strongest is one who, in battle between good and evil, stands on side of good rar than attempting to put m on same footing and call it “negotiations”. At same time, when it comes to white flag, we know this Vatican's strategy from first half of twentieth century. I urge you to avoid repeating mistakes of past and to support Ukraine and its people in ir struggle for ir lives,” Kuleba wrote on X, formally known as Twitter. “Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any or flags. We thank His Holiness Pope Francis for his constant prayers for peace, and we continue to hope that after two years of devastating war in heart of Europe, Pontiff will find an opportunity to pay an Apostolic visit to Ukraine to support over a million Ukrainian Catholics, over five million Greek-Catholics, all Christians, and all Ukrainians,” statement from Ukrainian foreign minister furr res. 

Pope receives backlash

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that pontiff was engaging in “virtual mediation”. However, he did not make any direct reference to Francis in his comments and mentioned that “religious figures are helping inside Ukraine". “y support us with prayer, with ir discussion and with deeds. This is indeed what a church with people is,” Zelenskyy said in his nightly video dress. “Not 2,500 km away, somewhere, virtual mediation between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy you," he ded. Politicians and commentators across Europe expressed outrage after Pope's interview. "How about, for balance, encouraging Putin to have courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine," Polish Foreign Minister Rosław Sikorski said Sunday on social media. “Peace would immediately ensue without need for negotiations,” Polish diplomat furred. 

Bernhard Kotsch, German ambassor to Holy See, called Russia aggressor in ongoing war and urged Moscow to end war. Edgars Rinkēvičs, president of Latvia also shared his “Sunday morning take” on matter. "One must not capitulate in face of evil, one must fight it and defeat it so that evil raises white flag and capitulates," he averred. During interview, pope also highlighted how some or nations offered to be mediators in peace talks. "Today, for example, in war in Ukraine, re are many who want to mediate," he said. "Turkey has offered itself for this. And ors. Do not be ashamed to negotiate before things get worse."