Ukrainian Foreign Minister Responds to Pope Francis, Kyiv Does Not Surrender

Pope Francis made the comments in an interview that was partially released over the weekend. He was responding to a suggestion from the host that when things don’t improve for one side, “they need to have the courage to be willing to negotiate.”

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on social network X affirmed that the strongest person in any dispute “stands on the side of good instead of considering both sides as equal and calling it ‘negotiation’”.

“Our flag is yellow and blue. This is the flag under which we will live, die and triumph. We will never raise any other flag.”

Mr Kuleba also pointed to allegations that Pope Pius XII failed to act against Nazi tyranny during World War II.

“At the same time, speaking of the white flag, we all know the Vatican's strategy since the first half of the 20th century.”

“I urge (the Vatican) to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and to support Ukraine and its people in their efforts to protect their lives.”

It was a statement that hinted at a long-held view that Pope Pius failed to act despite mounting evidence of the severity of the Holocaust. A letter released last year from the Vatican archives showed that Pope Pius had been informed of Nazi Germany’s genocide of Jews as early as 1942.

The leader of Ukraine's 5 million-member Catholic Church, Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, also dismissed the pope's comments.

“Ukraine is wounded but not defeated. Ukraine is tired but it is standing and will continue to stand. Believe me, no one intends to surrender.”

Zelensky's peace plan

Ukraine has failed to push back Russian forces since fighting there broke out two years ago, but the country continues to refuse to negotiate while Russian troops remain present in about 20 percent of its territory.

President Volodymyr Zelensky’s peace plan calls for Russia to withdraw all troops from Ukraine and restore the border between the two countries. The Kremlin has refused to participate in peace talks on Ukraine’s terms.

The papal interview is believed to be the first time Pope Francis has used words like “white flag” or “defeat” to discuss the war in Ukraine, although in the past he has raised the importance of negotiations.

Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said on Saturday that the pope used the interviewer's phrase "white flag" to "express the cessation of hostilities and the move toward a truce with the courage and willingness to negotiate."

The pope has repeatedly angered Ukrainian officials throughout the war, including after calling on Russian youth to be proud of being descendants of great tsars like Peter the Great last year, an act that Vladimir Putin cited as an example to justify the special operation in Ukraine.

European officials supporting Ukraine's efforts to push back Russian troops have condemned the pope's comments.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote on X: “For balance, perhaps the Pope should call on Putin to have the courage to withdraw his troops from Ukraine? Peace will be restored immediately without negotiations.”

Nguyen Quang Minh (according to Reuters)

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