The German Government criticized Pope Francis’ call for Ukraine to “raise the white flag” and begin negotiations to end the war, two years after the start of the Russian invasion
“I don’t understand”, reacted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, in an interview with public television ARD, on Sunday night, cited by the French agency AFP.
“I think that certain things can only be understood if we see them with our own eyes,” added the minister, who has visited Kiev several times since the start of the war in February 2022. A spokesman for Chancellor Olaf Scholz said yesterday , that the head of the German Government “does not share the Pope’s opinion”.
“Ukraine is standing up to an aggressor, benefits from broad international support and is acting within its right to self-defense under international law,” added Steffen Hebestreit.
In an interview with public television RTS broadcast on Saturday, Pope Francis, when asked about the situation in Ukraine, appealed to people not to be “ashamed to negotiate before things get worse”.
“I believe that the strongest are those who see the situation, think about the people and have the courage to raise the white flag and negotiate,” he said.
After the interview was released, the Vatican clarified that the Pope was not talking about surrender, but rather about negotiation.
The head of German diplomacy said that Berlin believes there will be no peace if Ukraine and its Western allies do not show strength in the face of Russia.
“We must support Ukraine and do everything in our power to ensure that the country can defend itself”, added Annalena Baerbock.
Germany is the second largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine, after the United States. Kiev also reacted harshly to Pope Francis on Sunday, with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stating that Ukraine “never will yield.”
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, in the daily video message, said that Ukrainians of all religions have defended the country since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
“Christians, Muslims, Jews, everyone… Support us through prayer, conversation and action,” he said. “That’s where the Church should be, with the people.
And not 2,500 kilometers away, with virtual mediation between someone who wants to live and someone who wants to destroy us”, he added.