Ukraine's foreign minister Dmitry Kuleba rejected Pope Francis' call for talks with Russia two years after its invasion, vowing to "never" surrender after the pontiff said Kiev must "have the courage to raise the white flag". AFP reported.
The Catholic leader sparked anger in Kiev after he said in an interview published on March 9 that Ukraine should negotiate with Russia, which seized large parts of its territory during the war.
"Our flag is yellow-blue. This is the flag with which we live, die and win. We will never raise any other flags," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said on social networks.
As it battles its larger neighbor, Ukraine has vowed not to give up its territory.
The Pope stoked the anger by saying: "When you see that you are defeated, that things are not working out, to have the courage to negotiate."
Kuleba called on the pontiff to stand "on the side of good" and not to put the warring parties "on the same footing and call it 'negotiations'".
He also appears to have mentioned some of the members of the Catholic Church who collaborated with the Nazi forces during World War II:
"At the same time, when it comes to the white flag, we have known this strategy of the Vatican since the first half of the 20th century," Kuleba said.
"I urge us not to repeat the mistakes of the past and to support Ukraine and its people in their just struggle for life," he added.
He also thanked Pope Francis for his "constant prayers for peace" and said Kiev hoped the cleric would visit Ukraine.
"We continue to hope that after two years of devastating war in the heart of Europe, the pontiff will find an opportunity to make an apostolic visit to Ukraine to support over one million Ukrainian Catholics, over five million Greek Catholics and all Ukrainians," Kuleba said . /BGNES
