NewStats: 3,264,350 , 8,183,438 topics. Date: Tuesday, 10 June 2025 at 05:28 PM h2o5p

Pope Francis has said in an interview that Ukraine should have what he called the courage of the "white flag" and negotiate an end to the war with Russia that followed Moscow's full-scale invasion two years ago and that has killed tens of thousands.

Francis made his comments in an interview recorded last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI, well before Friday's latest offer by Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia to end the war.

Erdogan made the fresh offer after a meeting in Istanbul with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Zelenskiy has said while he wants peace he will not give up any territory.

The Ukrainian leader's own peace plan calls for the withdrawal of Russian troops from all of Ukraine and the restoration of its state borders. The Kremlin has ruled out engaging in peace talks on set by Kyiv.
A spokesman for Zelenskiy did not immediately respond to a remarks.

In the interview Francis was asked for his position on a debate between those who say Ukraine should give up as it has not been able to repel Russian forces, and those who say doing so would legitimise actions by the strongest party. The interviewer used the term "white flag" in the question.

"It is one interpretation, that is true," Francis said, according to an advance transcript of the interview and a partial video made available to Reuters on Saturday. It is due to be broadcast on March 20 as part of a new cultural programme.

But I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates," [/b]Francis said, adding that talks should take place with the help of international powers.
[b]"The word negotiate is a courageous word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate," Francis said.

It was believed to be the first time Francis has used such as "white flag" or "defeated" in discussing the Ukraine war, although he has spoken in the past about the need for negotiations.

In a statement, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the pope had picked up on the term "white flag" spoken by the interviewer and used it "to indicate a stop to hostilities (and) a truce achieved with the courage of negotiations".

Last year the 87-year-old pope sent a peace envoy, Italian Cardinal Matteo Zuppi, to Kyiv, Moscow and Washington to sound out leaders in those countries.

"One may feel shame," Francis said about negotiating, "but how many dead will it (the war) end up with? (One should) negotiate in time, find a country that can be a mediator," Francis said, mentioning Turkey among the countries that had offered.
"Do not be ashamed of negotiating, before things get worse," said Francis, who has made hundreds of appeals for what he calls "martyred Ukraine". Asked if he was willing to mediate, Francis said "I am here".

In another part of the interview, speaking of the war between Israel and Hamas, Francis said: "Negotiating is never a surrender".

Last month Zelenskiy said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the Russian invasion in February 2022 and that tens of thousands of civilians had been killed in the occupied areas of the country.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pope-says-ukraine-should-have-courage-white-flag-negotiations-2024-03-09/

E be like say e don dey dawn on the Ukrainian ers say Ukraine is already in the lose.

But their agbado ers over here says others so far as free grains are coming in to Nigeria from Ukraine to justify their Master's failures.

Okay

The

Would Russia had invaded Ukraine if they had Nukes?

Why invade a country that didn't violate your country's territorial integrity?

Can Russia invade China assuming they decide to NATO?

If it was Donbass region you wanted to help and secede, what took you to Kiev in the first place?

Ukraine should not gree for anybody, they have lost enough to just yield for free.

If Russia must win, let them win in a costly way.

He must be from the waste side of the giant of africa

Peace

It's been long overdue
It's very foolish of Ukraine to have even entered a war with Russia in the first place, they should have done everything necessary to ensure that the war didn't start at all, na them still loose , nothing even happen for Russia, make them just swallow their pride and give up, simple.
Folks quoting me be like I don't know what am saying, yeah, it's true Russia invaded Ukraine, and you don't expect Ukraine to fold it's hand and watch, my people have a say "nganga ka eji agbara ehi oso" meaning you have to stylishly run away from a cow. All am is that the handwriting was on the wall that Russia is going to invade them, Ukraine could have swallowed the pill of shame and avoid the invasion, now that lives have been lost, age long properties and monuments destroyed in a space of 24 months, o dilanu nma?? E dey good??
I repeat not starting the war or provocations of war would have been the best, and now that it's gon this far, swallowing pride and giving up is the second best thing to do now.

End time pope.

Man of peace

It's a shame how zellensky allowed US to turn his country into the location for a proxy war on Russia.
It's a bigger shame zellensky was campaigned on the premises that he would reduce hostilities between Ukraine and their neighbors, Russia.

For those who don't understand what this war is about, how safe would you feel is you see your neighbor start to befriend someone who has sworn to murder you and your family?

In all this, it's the innocent Ukrainians I pity and at the end of this all, Ukraine won't have an armed force anymore

The pope really thinks its Ukraines war ?
Its the USA's War
They aim to steal all the customers of Russian Oil eventually.
Ukraine is just the proxy, if not for USA, Russia will over run Ukraine in 24hrs.

NATO pay upkeep to NATO(USA) to buy weapons manufactured by USA
NATO buy crude oil and natural gas from USA, because they cant buy from the enemy (Russia)
Everything is win win win for USA.
USA has given over 75 billion dollars in aid to ukraine.

Reminds me of when Buhari was allocating 1 billion dollars to fight Insecurity in the North.
I knew at that point, Insecurity will never go away in North, Insecurity(Bandits/Terrorists) is big business...LOL

Pope dey whine me?

Ukraine wey dey win the war abi another one?

Russia no try at all.


I strongly believe Russia/Putin will reap some reward for invading Ukraine unjustly, its well

All I pray for is peace in Ukraine.....

Ukraine is winning

I don't understand the need for war to own a territory. At the end of the day everyone just wanted to live in a comfortable way with regardless of whom they are called...

Maybe the people in the region should be asked to vote where they want to belong.

The Comedian President think war is an act/skit for drama.

malali:
The pope really thinks its Ukraines war ?
Its the USA's War
They aim to steal all the customers of Russian Oil eventually.
Ukraine is just the proxy, if not for USA, Russia will over run Ukraine in 24hrs.

In the German phonecall that was tapped by Russia a few days ago, the German generals even mentioned that UK has troops on ground in Ukraine.

Only ignorant folks don't know this is actually US' and nato's war and Ukraine is just the battleground

Jandminded:
Would Russia had invaded Ukraine if they had Nukes?

Why invade a country that didn't violate your country's territorial integrity?

Can Russia invade China assuming they decide to NATO?

If it was Donbass region you wanted to help and secede, what took you to Kiev in the first place?

Ukraine should not gree for anybody, they have lost enough to just yield for free.

If Russia must win, let them win in a costly way.

at what cost??

Zinoleski is funny , you want peace but you will not give up any Territory, how funny. Territory you were toiling with when you’re about to break Minks agreement. Any territory you loose during war is gone .

It’s either you win Russia or you loose more territories. How can your destiny be in the hands of NATO to give you weapons to win a war? Meaning you knew you can’t win this war with your capabilities, while not avoid the war to save face ?

Being politicaly correct has messed up these westerners always want to be in the good books in the international community at the expense of their citizens.

What a pity! Ukraine is down, its helpers have sufficient troubles in their hands and have not been able to deliver it from the mighty. Might is right indeed.

Peace they say is priceless

However, Ukraine don't have what it takes to tame Russia in this war.

He who fight and run away go fight another day

humilitypays:
Russia no try at all.


I strongly believe Russia/Putin will reap some reward for invading Ukraine unjustly, its well

Nope, absolutely nothing will happen.

Ukraine brought this upon themselves for letting their country be used by the us.

If there's supposed to be rewards for actions like this, the US will receive their own rewards for Libya, Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Japan, Vietnam etc

Awo

Lowo


The criminal bastard

Ewedu phools

What does that say

Jandminded:
Would Russia had invaded Ukraine if they had Nukes?

Why invade a country that didn't violate your country's territorial integrity?

Can Russia invade China assuming they decide to NATO?

If it was Donbass region you wanted to help and secede, what took you to Kiev in the first place?

Ukraine should not gree for anybody, they have lost enough to just yield for free.

If Russia must win, let them win in a costly way.

You're not knowledgeable on the remote causes of this war. Don't digest everything you hear from CNN and Fox etc, do your own research.

Russia would've taken Kiev if they had wanted, but there's no need for that, that's the reason they left that area and focused on the east. If Ukraine doesn't yield soon they'll lose more than they already have

humilitypays:
Russia no try at all.


I strongly believe Russia/Putin will reap some reward for invading Ukraine unjustly, its well

I don't think it's unjust. Ukrain wanted to NATO. That is a big threat to Russia

Do you know what happened to Cuba because they aligned with Russia? Cuba is just 75Km from Miami. Till today they are still under serious sanctions. To buy common sweet or milk,you need to line up for more than one hour. Their cars are still oldsmobile. I have been there and seen it.myself. what US is doing to that country is so unfair and unjust.

My point is US knows the danger of Russia in their backyard. Why will they expect Russian to accept thesame

Zelenaky is the most foolish president. Led his people to an unwinnable war. The man thinks its a movie. Now they will have to come to the table to negotiate after thousands of men are dead. Stupid

YouAreNobody:


You're not knowledgeable on the remote causes of this war. Don't digest everything you hear from CNN and Fox etc, do your own research.

Russia would've taken Kiev if they had wanted, but there's no need for that, that's the reason they left that area and focused on the east. If Ukraine doesn't yield soon they'll lose more than they already have

The Russian gods bleeds, but they won’t let you know that too

Peace they avoided in the beginning is what they would look for when they are tired. Is there a country that's not feeling the pains of the war, inflation everywhere