Pope Francis said to Switzerland's RSI news agency in an interview that was released on Saturday that the Ukrainian leadership should have the guts to negotiate a settlement with Russia to put an end to the current carnage.
The discussion in Ukraine between those "calling for the courage of surrender and the white flag" and others who contend that giving in would justify the use of force internationally had the host, Lorenzo Buccella, asking the pope what he felt about it.
Pope Francis said, "It is one interpretation." "But in my opinion, the most formidable individual is the one who perceives the circumstances, considers the people, possesses the bravery of the white flag, and engages in negotiation."
"Negotiation is never about surrendering, but the courage of not leading the country to suicide," Francis said. "When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate."
"How many fatalities will there ultimately be, even if you may feel ashamed? The pope urged, "Negotiate promptly and seek out nations to mediate."
The war between Russia and Ukraine began its third year in February, and the pope said that many nations desire to assist in putting a stop to it.
Ukraine and its supporters in the West maintain that a peace agreement should only be reached on Kiev's terms and have promised to keep arming the country for "as long as it takes." Meanwhile, Russia has emphasized that the combat would not shift in response to any amount of outside assistance.
As both parties accused the other of making irrational demands, meaningful peace talks between Moscow and Kiev essentially collapsed in the spring of 2022.
Subsequently, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Ukrainian team had at first agreed to several of Russia's demands at the negotiations in Istanbul in March 2022, but had suddenly broken the agreement.
The discussion in Ukraine between those "calling for the courage of surrender and the white flag" and others who contend that giving in would justify the use of force internationally had the host, Lorenzo Buccella, asking the pope what he felt about it.
Pope Francis said, "It is one interpretation." "But in my opinion, the most formidable individual is the one who perceives the circumstances, considers the people, possesses the bravery of the white flag, and engages in negotiation."
"Negotiation is never about surrendering, but the courage of not leading the country to suicide," Francis said. "When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate."
"How many fatalities will there ultimately be, even if you may feel ashamed? The pope urged, "Negotiate promptly and seek out nations to mediate."
The war between Russia and Ukraine began its third year in February, and the pope said that many nations desire to assist in putting a stop to it.
Ukraine and its supporters in the West maintain that a peace agreement should only be reached on Kiev's terms and have promised to keep arming the country for "as long as it takes." Meanwhile, Russia has emphasized that the combat would not shift in response to any amount of outside assistance.
As both parties accused the other of making irrational demands, meaningful peace talks between Moscow and Kiev essentially collapsed in the spring of 2022.
Subsequently, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Ukrainian team had at first agreed to several of Russia's demands at the negotiations in Istanbul in March 2022, but had suddenly broken the agreement.
