Zelensky rejects Pope's invitation to negotiate with Russia: virtual mediation

On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Pope Francis' invitation to hold talks with Russia, describing it as “virtual mediation” from afar.

In his video evening speech, Zelensky did not directly refer to the pope or his statement, but said the pope's thoughts had nothing to do with the efforts of religious figures in Ukraine to help the country.

He added: “They support us through prayer, their discussions and actions… This is really what the Church people have to do,” and then added: “But 2,500 kilometers away, somewhere, a virtual mediation takes place. Between one person who wants to live and another who wants to live. .” “Destroy yourself.”

Earlier on Sunday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kiev would never surrender, responding to Pope Francis' call for Ukraine to show “the courage of the white flag” and end the war with Russia.

Pope Francis said this in an interview published yesterday, Saturday. The Pope responded to an interviewer's question in which he used the phrase “white flag”: “I believe that the strongest is the one who sees the situation, thinks about the people, has the courage of the white flag and negotiates. .”

Guliba said on social media

He added in English: “Our flag is yellow and blue,” referring to the Ukrainian flag. He also said, “This is the flag by which we live, die and win, and we will not raise any other flag.”

“When it comes to the white flag, we've known this Vatican strategy since the first half of the twentieth century,” he continued, referring to the Vatican's lack of action against the Nazis during World War II.

He added: “I ask (the Vatican) to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and to support Ukraine and its people in their just struggle for survival.”

(Reuters)