Pope Francis Urges Ukraine to Negotiate Peace with Russia
In a recent interview with Swiss broadcaster RSI, Pope Francis urged Ukraine to have the courage to negotiate an end to the ongoing war with Russia. The Pope emphasized the importance of not being ashamed to sit at the same table for peace talks, with the assistance of international powers.
Despite the Pope’s appeal for dialogue, Ukraine remains firm on not engaging directly with Russia on peace talks. They believe that the initiative for negotiation must come from the country that has invaded their land. The war, now in its third year, has seen Russia gaining momentum on the battlefield, leaving Ukraine running low on ammunition.
Some Western allies are considering sending troops to support Ukraine, as they face mounting pressure from Russia. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni clarified that Pope Francis used the term “white flag” from the interviewer, after facing criticism for appearing to side with Russia in the conflict.
The Pope emphasized that negotiations are never a sign of surrender, and pointed out that countries like Turkey have offered to mediate in the conflict. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan recently offered to host a peace summit between Ukraine and Russia, during a visit from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the international community is hopeful that diplomatic efforts will lead to a peaceful resolution. Pope Francis’s call for courage and dialogue offers a glimmer of hope for an end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
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