In a recently published interview for Swiss broadcaster RSI, Pope Francis said that Ukraine should be open to negotiations when considering peace talks.
“But I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates,” Francis said in the interview.
The interview was brought out as Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan proposed a summit between Ukraine and Russia. The proposal was presented after a meeting in Istanbul with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky said that he wanted peace, but also stated that he did not want to lose territory. The peace plan calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops even from Crimea and the restoration of the 1991 state borders – conditions that have been excluded by the Kremlin from a potential peace talk.
Francis also suggested facilitating discussions with the help of global players: “The word negotiate is a courageous word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.”
This is believed to be the first time Francis has used phrases such as “white flag” or “defeat” when referring to the war in Ukraine, despite his previous statements in favour of diplomatic dialogue. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said in a statement that the Pope used the expression “to indicate a stop to hostilities (and) a truce achieved with the courage of negotiations.”
Last year, the 87-year-old pontiff sent a peace envoy, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, to Kyiv, Moscow and Washington to speak to the leaders of those countries, and said he himself was willing to mediate.
“One may feel shame,” Francis said about negotiating, “but how many dead will it (the war) end up with? (One should) negotiate in time, find a country that can be a mediator,” Francis said, mentioning Turkey among the countries that had offered.
