Pope Francis Urges Ukraine-Russia Negotiations for Peace
Pope Francis has called on Ukraine to exhibit what he referred to as the "courage symbolised by the white flag" and engage in negotiations with Russia to bring an end to the conflict that erupted following Moscow's extensive invasion two years ago, resulting in the loss of tens of thousands of lives, according to Reuters.
During an interview with RSI, Pope Francis emphasised the importance of negotiation, stating, "Negotiation requires courage." He stressed that such negotiations should involve the participation of international powers.
This marks the first time Pope Francis has used phrases like "white flag" or "defeated" when discussing the conflict in Ukraine, although he has previously underscored the necessity of negotiations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently reported that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the Russian invasion in February 2022, with tens of thousands of civilians perishing in the occupied territories of the country.
Pope Francis's interview with RSI took place last month, predating the latest proposal by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia to halt the war. Erdogan's proposal follows his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Istanbul.
Zelensky reiterated in Istanbul that, while desiring peace, Ukraine is unwilling to cede territory. Conversely, Moscow maintains that Russia will persist until achieving the objectives of the "special military operation" initiated on February 24, 2022.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
