Kyiv criticized a recent comment by Pope Francis that Ukraine should “have the courage to raise the white flag,” meaning it should negotiate with Russia two years into Moscow’s invasion.
“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,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on social media, vowing “never” to surrender.
Kuleba called on the pontiff to stand “on the side of good” and not put the opposing sides “on the same footing and call it ‘negotiations.'”
He also thanked the pope for his “constant prayers for peace” and said Kyiv hoped the cleric would visit Ukraine.
Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni responded to the criticisms saying that the pontiff urged “a stop to hostilities (and) a truce achieved with the courage of negotiations,” rather than an outright Ukrainian surrender.
