Ukraine war
Pope interview: Kremlin emphasizes willingness to negotiate
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskowhat spoke out after the outrage following the Pope’s interview. photo
© Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP/dpa
Moscow does not see the Pope’s controversial statements about Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as a call for Kiev to surrender. The Kremlin reiterates its willingness to negotiate.
After Pope Francis’ controversial interview, the Kremlin has responded to Russia’s war of aggression against the Ukraine stressed its willingness to negotiate to end the conflict. Russia does not understand the Pope’s statements in the interview with Swiss television as a call for Ukraine to surrender, but as a plea for negotiations, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, according to Russian news agencies. Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin has repeatedly spoken about being ready and open to negotiations. “This is the preferred way,” Peskov said.
The Pope had sparked massive opposition with a misleading appeal for peace negotiations in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In the interview, the 87-year-old also used the phrase “white flag” – a sign of surrender in times of war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the Pope’s appeal. Western politicians and observers have in the past expressed doubts about Moscow’s serious willingness to engage in talks.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Peskov accused the West and France in particular of further inflaming tensions in the conflict with the discussion about sending ground troops to Ukraine. “This is a dangerous line, a very dangerous one,” Peskov said. Russia is following this closely. The Russian services already have information that there are forces in Ukraine who, although they describe themselves as advisors, have a direct connection to NATO.
French President Emmanuel Macron had previously stated after an international Ukraine support conference in Paris, attended by numerous heads of state and government: “There is no consensus today about officially sending ground troops.” However, he added: “But nothing can be ruled out in the dynamic. We will do everything necessary to ensure that Russia cannot win this war.”