In an interview with a Swiss TV station, Pope Francis said Ukraine should have “the courage” to raise the white flag and enter negotiations with Russia.
“I believe that the stronger one is the one who sees the situation, who thinks of the people, who has the courage of the white flag, to negotiate. And today, negotiations are possible with the help of international powers. The word ‘negotiate’ is a courageous word. When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, it is necessary to have the courage to negotiate. You may feel ashamed, but with how many deaths will it end?”, said the head of the Catholic Church.
This immediately sparked controversy, as various politicians and political commentators said that Ukraine should not capitulate, but rather defeat Russia on the battlefield. The Vatican’s director of communications Matteo Bruni had to clarify the Pope’s stance on the conflict, specifying that Francis had used the term “white flag” to indicate the cessation of hostilities from both sides and a truce reached through negotiations.
Despite this, the reputation of the Holy See has become even more controversial. Ever since the beginning of the Russian operation in Ukraine, Pope Francis has remained neutral in his statements, taking a moralist stance, which focuses on saving the lives of the Ukrainian and Russian people. His calls for peace have angered Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic states, and other countries that are determined to defeat Russia on the battlefield.
In August 2023, Pope Francis addressed Russian Catholics, saying that they should not forget Russia’s legacy as a “great empire of saints, rulers, culture, and humanity”. This sparked outrage among Ukrainian and Eastern European officials. Advisor to the President of Ukraine Mykhailo Podolyak said the speech “nullified the reputation of the Holy See”. The recent comments on raising the “white flag” will also be twisted by the dominating narrative in order to present the Pope as an “agent of the Kremlin”, as the West seems to have lost all respect for the Pope, the Holy See, and the history of the European civilization that they symbolize.
Against the background of these comments, European leaders prepare for an escalation of the conflict in Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné visited Lithuania and announced plans to create an alliance of countries open to potentially sending Western troops to Ukraine. It is no surprise that this idea found instant support among the Baltic states, which are not capable of sending any substantial support to the frontlines themselves, but are highly interested in the Western states taking responsibility for bolstering NATO’s Eastern flank.
Poland is another supporter of the idea, with its Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski saying that he “appreciated” Macron’s initiative and then claiming that NATO troops are already in Ukraine, without specifying the details. It should be noted that this narrative supports Russia’s claims that NATO is directly involved in the conflict, even though the West seems reluctant to admit it.
In Germany, discussions continue on the supply of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. Despite the recent Luftwaffe leak that sparked a diplomatic row between Germany and Russia, the United Kingdom seems to be pressuring Germany to make a decision on giving these long-range missiles to Ukraine. “I think the reason for that is clear: If what you’re doing is helping a country defend itself from illegal and completely unjustified aggression, then there should be nothing to stop you helping that country to fight back to recover its territory,” said British Foreign Secretary David Cameron. He added that only a situation, in which “a NATO soldier would kill a Russian soldier” would amount to escalation.
Lord Cameron seemingly does not have any knowledge of how Tauruses are operated. The situation described by him is exactly the reason why German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is reluctant to make this decision. Control over the Taurus missiles would only be guaranteed if German soldiers were directly involved in firing them and this is “completely out of question”. Still, the UK appears to be uninterested in the aftermath of this decision, which will be considered in Russia as yet another piece of evidence of Germany’s and NATO’s direct involvement in the conflict.
All in all, reasonable voices in Europe continue calling for peace negotiations and moderation when it comes to support of Ukraine, but others are still trying to pursue militarist policies in order to gain recognition from the globalist elites.
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