Kyiv: Ukraine has strongly rejected Pope Francis's recent call for negotiations with Russia, asserting its unwavering commitment to resisting the invasion.
The Pope's suggestion, urging Kyiv to "have the courage to raise the white flag" during an interview, drew ire from Ukrainian officials.
Responding to the Pope's comments, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized the country's steadfast resolve, stating, "Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags."
Despite facing aggression from Russia and territorial losses, Ukraine has consistently pledged not to surrender any part of its land. Kuleba expressed disappointment with the Pope's stance, urging him to support Ukraine unequivocally.
"When it comes to the white flag, we know this Vatican strategy from the first half of the 20th century," Kuleba remarked, alluding to historical collaborations between some factions of the Catholic Church and Nazi forces during World War II. He urged the Pope to learn from past mistakes and stand firmly "on the side of good."
Acknowledging the Pope's continuous prayers for peace, Kuleba expressed hope that Pope Francis would visit Ukraine to offer support. Despite the challenging circumstances, he emphasized the resilience of the Ukrainian people in their just struggle for survival.
"We continue to hope that after two years of devastating war in the heart of Europe, the Pontiff will find an opportunity to pay an Apostolic visit to Ukraine to support over a million Ukrainian Catholics, over five million Greek-Catholics and all Ukrainians," Kuleba stated.