Kremlin must take the first step
Vatican rows back on controversial Pope statement
March 12, 2024, 8:44 a.m
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With his statement that Ukraine should raise the “white flag” and negotiate with Moscow, Pope Francis triggered a lot of criticism. A little later, the Vatican tried to correct this: Russia, not Kiev, should stop the shelling first.
The Vatican is rowing back after Pope Francis’ controversial statement that Ukraine should raise the white flag and negotiate with Russia. The first condition for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine is that Russia stops its aggression, said the Pope’s deputy Cardinal Pietro Parolin in an interview with “Corriere della Sera”. The Vatican is pushing for a ceasefire and “first and foremost, the aggressors should stop shelling,” said the cardinal.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the papal nuncio on Monday to express his “disappointment” over statements made by Francis. The Pope had recommended that Ukraine have the courage to raise a “white flag” and negotiate an end to the war with Russia. “When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate,” the head of the Catholic Church said.
The statements have sparked widespread criticism. On Monday, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced through his spokesman that he “does not agree with the Pope on this issue.” “It is true that Ukraine is defending itself against an aggressor.” They also receive a lot of international support in order to be able to defend themselves against the war of aggression that violates international law, said Steffen Hebestreit.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “If we want a lasting peaceful solution through negotiations, then the way to get there is military support for Ukraine.” It is not the right time “to talk about Ukrainian capitulation.” This would be a tragedy for the Ukrainians and “also dangerous for all of us.”