Ukraine is increasingly on the defensive in the war. Now the Pope called on the attacked country to negotiate with Russia “before things get even worse.” After criticism, the Vatican seeks clarification.
According to Pope Francis, Ukraine should have the courage to raise a “white flag” and negotiate an end to the war with Russia. “Don’t be ashamed to negotiate before things get even worse,” said the Pope in an interview with the Swiss radio station RSI, which is scheduled to be broadcast on March 20th, but excerpts of which have now been published in advance.
He thinks “that the strongest is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people, has the courage of the white flag and negotiates,” said the pontiff. “Negotiating is never a surrender. It is the courage not to lead the country to suicide,” emphasized Francis, recalling that Ukraine had already suffered a lot under Stalin.
Pope: The only winners are arms suppliers
Francis also raised the question of how many deaths there will ultimately be in the war between Russia and Ukraine and said international powers should be involved in the conversation. Turkey and others offered to act as mediators.
In the conversation, the Catholic church leader reiterated the view that the only winners in a war are the arms suppliers.
In another part of the interview, which dealt with the war between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas, he emphasized: “Negotiating is never a surrender.” History teaches that sooner or later an agreement must be reached.
Angry reactions and damage limitation
In Ukraine, the term “white flag” used by the Pope was understood as a call to surrender and triggered angry reactions. “It seems strange that the Pope does not call for the defense of Ukraine, does not condemn Russia as an aggressor that is killing tens of thousands of people,” wrote former MP and Deputy Interior Minister Anton Herashchenko on the X network, formerly Twitter.
The former Ukrainian ambassador to Austria, Olexander Scherba, called the Pope a “believer of little faith” using a word from the Bible. Kiev officials did not comment. From previous Pope statements, Ukrainians have the feeling that Francis has more understanding for Russia than for their attacked country.
The Vatican then tried to limit the damage and tried to classify the Pope’s statements. His spokesman Matteo Bruni contradicted reports that the Pope had called on Ukraine to surrender in the interview. He wanted “above all to call for a ceasefire and to revive the courage to negotiate.”
Ukraine increasingly on the defensive
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly said that he wants peace, but calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from all over Ukraine and the restoration of Ukrainian state borders. Russia rejected peace talks on these terms.
On Friday, Turkey was in talks to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia. NATO member Turkey has maintained its contacts with both Ukraine and Russia since the beginning of the war.
Kiev is increasingly on the defensive in the war that has lasted more than two years. The Ukrainian soldiers on the front are suffering from a lack of ammunition – partly because of the delay in further military aid from the USA.
With information from Verena Schälter, ARD Rome
Verena Schälter, ARD Rome, tagesschau, March 10, 2024 5:49 a.m