Ukraine entered its third year of war with Russia on Feb. 24 after mounting a failed counteroffensive and facing the prospect of delayed and diminished Western support. Francis said Ukraine should negotiate as its prospects of winning the war continue to slip away, according to an interview transcript and clip shared with Reuters on Saturday.
In the interview slated to air March 20, Francis asserted:
"I think that the strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates. The word negotiate is a courageous word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate.The Pope also indicated he was available to help with negotiations, saying at one point, "Negotiating is never a surrender."
"One may feel shame, but how many dead will it (the war) end up with? (One should) negotiate in time, find a country that can be a mediator. Do not be ashamed of negotiating, before things get worse."
President Joe Biden's White House denied Reuters reporting in February that his administration played a role in killing a potential Ukraine ceasefire proposal from Russia, in a statement to the Daily Caller. The White House told the Caller that the reporting originates from a biased Russian point of view and asserted that neither Russia nor its president Vladimir Putin ever brought forward a ceasefire proposal.
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