Kremlin reminds that Putin’s stance echoes Pope's call for Ukraine to negotiate

Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, commented on Pope Francis' scandalous suggestion for Ukraine to "raise the white flag," nothing the Kremlin favors the same stance, Russian propaganda agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram on March 11.

Peskov claimed that Putin has consistently advocated for negotiations, despite Ukraine allegedly vehemently denying such a possibility. He criticized Ukraine for relying on statements from European countries about Russia's strategic defeat, deeming it a "deep mistake."

Read also: Evil must be fought and defeated, Latvian President responds to Pope’s outrageous ‘white flag’ statement

Pope Francis said that “those who have the courage to raise the white flag and to negotiate are stronger," in a recent interview with the Swiss radio and television company RSI. He called for negotiations "before it's too late."

Matteo Bruni, head of the Vatican press service, clarified the Pope's statement, indicating that he used the image of a "white flag" to symbolize the cessation of hostilities, calling for a truce achieved through “the courage to negotiate.” Bruni asserted the Pope's alleged deep attachment to the Ukrainian people.

Pope Francis's statement prompted reactions, especially in Poland and Latvia.

"How about we encourage Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine for balance?” Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said.

Read also: Lithuania summons Vatican ambassador after Pope Francis praises Russian Empire

“Peace would immediately come without the need for negotiations"

“My Sunday morning take: … one must fight it [evil] and defeat it, so that the evil raises the white flag and capitulates,” Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, in response to the words of Pope Francis, said that the flag of Ukraine is blue and yellow, and "we shall never raise any other flags"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the calls of Pope Francis.

“There used to be many white walls of houses and churches in Ukraine, but they have now been burned and damaged by Russian shells,” Zelenskyy said.

“This speaks volumes about who needs to stop for the war to end.”

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