The Kremlin has acknowledged Pope Francis’ call for talks to end the Ukraine war as “quite understandable,” while NATO’s leader has stated that now is not the time to discuss “surrender.”
Pope Francis, in a recorded interview from last month, suggested that Ukraine should have the courage to negotiate for peace in a conflict that has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands.
As the West considers how to support Ukraine amidst the possibility of a shift in US policy if Donald Trump wins the upcoming presidential election, Putin has proposed freezing the conflict along current front lines, a proposal that Ukraine rejects.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, “It is quite understandable that Pope Francis spoke in favor of negotiations.” He mentioned that President Vladimir Putin has consistently expressed Russia’s openness to peace talks.
Peskov added, “Unfortunately, both the pope’s statements and those of other parties, including ours, have faced strong refusals recently.”
Russia asserts that its military operation in February 2022 was for its own security, while Kyiv and the West view it as a brutal war of conquest.
Moscow’s negotiation offers have consistently involved Kyiv relinquishing territories that Russia has seized and claimed as part of its own, which amounts to over a sixth of Ukraine.
Peskov dismissed Western hopes of a “strategic defeat” on Russia, stating that events on the battlefield provide clear evidence to the contrary.
However, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that negotiations for preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence would only occur when Putin realizes he cannot win militarily.
Stoltenberg stated, “If we seek a peaceful, lasting solution through negotiations, we must provide military support to Ukraine.” He emphasized that discussing surrender by the Ukrainians at this time would be tragic.
He warned that capitulation would not only be detrimental to Ukrainians but also dangerous for all, as it would reinforce the idea in Moscow that military force and aggression lead to achieving their goals.
Ukraine rejected Pope Francis’ call for negotiations to end the war, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stating that the pontiff’s efforts were virtual and the foreign minister affirming that Kyiv would never surrender.
Zelenskiy, who previously ruled out talks with Putin in a decree from 2022, declared that Russia will not be invited to a forthcoming peace summit in Switzerland.
