In response to Pope Francis’s call for Ukraine to demonstrate “the courage of the white flag” and engage in peace talks to end its conflict with Russia, the country’s foreign minister declared on Sunday that Kyiv would never give in and instructed the Vatican to give careful consideration to its involvement in World War Two.
The remarks were made by Francis in an interview that was partially made public over the weekend. In response to a suggestion made by a presenter, he stated that “you have to have the bravery to negotiate” when things were not going well for one of the parties in a quarrel.
In response to Pope Francis’s plea for “the courage of the white flag” and negotiations to end the war with Russia, Ukraine’s foreign minister declared on Sunday that Kyiv will never give in and told the Vatican to pay special heed to its role in World War Two.
Francis made the comments in an interview made available in part at the weekend. He responded to a presenter’s suggestion by saying that when things were not going well for a party to a conflict “you have to have the courage to negotiate”.
In reference to the national flag of Ukraine, Kuleba wrote in English, “Our flag is a yellow and blue one.” “This is our banner, by which we survive and thrive. We won’t ever fly any more flags.”
Kuleba also brought up claims that during World War Two, Pope Pius XII did little to stop the oppressive Nazi regime.
He stated, “At the same time, we know this Vatican’s policy from the first part of the twentieth century when it comes to the white flag.”
“I implore (the Church) to refrain from making the same mistakes as in the past and to stand for Ukraine and its people as they rightfully fight to survive.”
That was a reference to long-standing claims that Pius did nothing in spite of information that surfaced during the war of the extent of the Holocaust. A letter made public last year from the Vatican archives appeared to show that Pius was made aware of details of Nazi actions to exterminate Jews as early as 1942.
Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of Ukraine’s five million-strong eastern rite Catholic Church, has rejected Pope Francis’ comments on Ukraine’s situation. Shevchuk stated that Ukraine is wounded but not conquered, and that no one has any idea of surrendering. Ukraine has been unable to repel Russian forces since Moscow’s invasion two years ago, but rejects negotiations while Moscow’s troops remain in less than 20% of its territory. Shevchuk’s peace plan is based on the belief that Ukraine is exhausted and will stand despite the ongoing conflict.
(Reuters)
