The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Vatican representative. This is a reaction to the Pope's recent statement

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Apostolic Nuncio to Ukraine, Visvaldas Kulbokas, on Monday (March 11). "Visvaldas Kulbokas was informed that Ukraine is disappointed with the Pope's words about the 'white flag' and the need to 'show courage and negotiate' with the aggressor," the ministry wrote in a statement quoted by the Interfax news agency.

Vatican representative at the Ukrainian MFA. The Ministry spoke of "encouraging disregard for international law"

"The MFA informed that instead of appeals promoting the law of the stronger and encouraging further disregard for the norms of international law, the head of the Holy See is expected to signal to the world community the need to immediately unite forces to ensure the victory of good over evil," the ministry's spokesman reported on the meeting. The Ministry also told the Apostolic Nuncio that appeals should be directed to the aggressor, not the victim.

The Ministry said that Ukraine is striving for peace like no other. However, he stressed that it must be just and based on the principles of the UN Charter and the formula proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The words of Pope Francis were already publicly commented on by Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs. "The strongest is the one who, in the fight between good and evil, stands on the side of good, instead of trying to equate them and call it 'negotiations'," he stated in his post on social media.

"At the same time, when it comes to the white flag, we know the Vatican's strategy from the first half of the 20th century. I urge you to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and support Ukraine and its people in their just struggle for life"
he said.

The controversial statement by Pope Francis was made during an interview for Swiss television RSI. The whole conversation is to be broadcast on March 20, but its fragments were published earlier and quickly resonated widely in the media. - This is one of the interpretations. But I believe that the stronger is the one who sees the situation, who thinks about people, who has the courage of the white flag to negotiate - is one of the Pope's answers on the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.