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Pope Francis: Sharp criticism from Ukraine

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IPA / ABACAPRESS / IMAGO

After controversial statements by Pope Francis about a possible surrender in the war against Russia, Ukraine has summoned the representative of the Holy See in Kiev to the Foreign Ministry.

Visvaldas Kulbokas - the apostolic nuncio who represents the Vatican in Ukraine - had been informed that the country attacked by Russia was "disappointed" by Francis' comments, the authority said.

The papal appeal should go “to the attacker and not to the victim,” criticized the Ukrainian side.

In addition, Francis is expected to advocate for a “victory of good over evil” “instead of sending appeals that legalize the law of the strongest and encourage him to continue to disregard the norms of international law.”

Francis had said in an interview about the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, which has now been going on for more than two years: "When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate." Francis also agreed Demands for “the courage to surrender, to raise the white flag.”

To which he replied: »It's a question of perspective.

But I think that the stronger is the one who recognizes the situation, who thinks of the people, who has the courage of the white flag to negotiate." Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni later contradicted reports that the Pope had called on Ukraine to surrender.

In addition, Kiev emphasized that Ukraine is striving for peace.

But this peace must be fair and based on the peace formula presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Among other things, this provides for a withdrawal of Russian troops, who currently occupy around a fifth of Ukrainian territory.

Scholz “does not agree with the Pope”

The Pope's statement sparked a lot of criticism.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) positioned himself against its content.

"As you can imagine, the Chancellor does not agree with the Pope on this issue," said government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

"It is true that Ukraine is defending itself against an aggressor." It also receives a lot of international support in order to be able to defend itself against the war of aggression that violates international law.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz also rejected the Pope's call for peace negotiations with Russia.

Merz said he considered the statement by the head of the Catholic Church to be “fundamentally wrong.”

sol/dpa