Pope Francis Suggests Ukraine Should Have the Courage to Negotiate for Peace

In a recent interview, Pope Francis suggested that in the face of defeat and challenging circumstances, it is necessary to have the courage to negotiate. The pontiff expressed his belief that those who think about the people and show the courage of the white flag are the strongest.

Pope Francis stated that Ukraine should be brave enough to "raise the white flag" and negotiate to end the war that followed the full-scale invasion launched by Moscow two years ago, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

When asked about his opinion on the debate where one side suggests that Ukraine should give up territories it has been unable to reclaim, and the other side argues that this would legitimize the actions of the stronger party, the pope shared his insights in the interview scheduled for broadcast on March 20. An advance transcript and a partial video recording of the interview was obtained by the British news agency Reuters on Saturday.

"I believe that the stronger one is the one who understands the situation, who thinks of the people, who has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates," the pope declared. He added that negotiations should be conducted with the assistance of the great powers.

"The word 'negotiate' is a courageous word. When we see that we are suffering defeat, that things are not going well, we must have the courage to negotiate," Pope Francis emphasized.

This was the first time the pope used the expressions "white flag" and "suffering defeat" regarding the war in Ukraine, although he has previously stressed the need for negotiations.

"Some may feel shame," said Pope Francis, referring to negotiations, "but how many will die by the time the war ends? It is necessary to negotiate in a timely manner and find a country that can mediate." The pontiff mentioned Turkey among the countries that have offered to mediate.

"Do not be ashamed to negotiate before things get worse," he urged, noting that he has made hundreds of appeals for what he calls the "martyrdom" of Ukraine. When asked if he would be willing to mediate, he declared, "I am here."

In another part of the interview, discussing the war between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist organization Hamas, the pontiff stated that "negotiating never means surrendering."

The interview with Pope Francis was recorded by the Swiss television network RSI last month, well before the Friday offer from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in which he expressed willingness to host a Russian-Ukrainian summit to discuss ending the war. Erdogan's latest proposal came after hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Istanbul. Zelenskyy emphasized his desire for peace but his refusal to cede any territory.

According to the Ukrainian leader's peace plan, all Russian troops must withdraw from the entire territory of Ukraine, and the state borders must be restored. The Kremlin has ruled out negotiating for peace on the terms set by Kyiv.