The Kremlin described Pope Francis’ call for talks to end the Ukrainian War on March 11, 2024, as “quite understandable”, but the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) said that now is not the time to talk about “surrender”. Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned its ambassador to the Vatican to express its “disappointment” with Francis’ comments in an interview last month that Ukraine should have “the courage of the white flag” to end the conflict.[1]
Ministry said the Pope’s comments “legitimized the right to power and encouraged further disregard for the norms of international law.” As the West considers how to support Ukraine and the possibility of a sharp change in US policy if Donald Trump win the presidential election in November, Putin has essentially proposed freezing the battlefield along existing front lines. However, Ukraine rejects this proposal.[2]
Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in his statement to journalists, said, “It is quite understandable that (the Pope) speaks in favour of negotiations.” Peskov stated that President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly said that Russia is open to peace talks. Peskov said, “Unfortunately, both the Pope’s statements and the repeated statements of other parties, including ours, have recently received harsh rejections.” Russia says that it sent its soldiers to Ukraine as part of a “special military operation” in February 2022 to ensure its own security. Kyiv and the West describe this as a colonial-style “war of conquest”.[3]
Moscow’s negotiating offers are always based on Kyiv giving up territory that Moscow has seized and declared part of Russia. The fact that these lands are more than one-sixth of Ukraine creates a significant situation and makes this possibility difficult. Peskov said that the West’s hope of inflicting a “strategic defeat” on Russia was “the deepest mistake” and said: “The course of events, especially on the battlefield, is the clearest evidence of this.”.[4]
“This would also be dangerous for all of us,” Peskov said. “Because the lesson learned in Moscow is that when they use military force, when they kill thousands of people, when they invade another country, they get what they want.” he continued. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Archbishop Visvaldas Kulbokas told the Pope that “he is expected to send signals to the world community about the need to immediately join forces to ensure the victory of good over evil.”.[5]
It has been stated that Ukraine wants peace, but that it is a fair peace, based on the principles of the United Nations and the peace plan of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenski. In his statement on March 10, 2024, Zelenski said that the Pope was acting as a “virtual mediatör”, while the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that Kyiv would never surrender.[6]
Zelenski, who signed a decree rejecting talks with Putin in 2022, said last week that Russia would not be invited to a peace summit to be held in Switzerland. Zelensky’s peace plan envisages the withdrawal of Russian soldiers, the return of Ukraine to its 1991 borders, and the necessary process to hold Russia accountable for its actions. Russia says it cannot hold any talks under such preconditions.
These developments address Pope Francis’ call for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine and the different corresponding reactions. There is a fundamental dichotomy between the Kremlin finding this call “understandable” and the NATO Secretary General emphasizing the idea that Putin will not be able to achieve military success in Ukraine. The developments reflect the views, strategies and policies of different parties regarding the Ukraine Crisis and reflect different approaches to peace and solution.
The Kremlin’s position suggests that Russia is open to peaceful solutions, but negotiations can only take place if Ukraine accepts Russia’s demands. NATO, on the other hand, argues that negotiations that will protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence can only take place when Russia understands that it cannot gain military superiority.
At the same time, these developments address the Pope’s call, as well as how the Ukrainian government and its leaders responded to these calls. It is noteworthy that Ukraine criticized the Pope’s call, claiming that it was against international law and promoted the right of might. In addition, it can be said that Ukraine’s desire for peace and the emphasis on Zelensky’s peace plan reflect the country’s desire to exist stably and independently.
As a result, these developments create important issues in issues such as international relations, conflict resolution and diplomatic negotiation strategies. It also provides a basis for understanding the interests and strategies of different actors towards the Ukraine crisis. Such developments can be considered within a broader discussion about power dynamics, conflict management and peace processes in international relations.
[1] “Kremlin, NATO at Odds Over Pope’s Call for Ukraine to Show ‘White Flag’ and Start Talks”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-popes-appeal-ukraine-war-is-west-2024-03-11/, (Date of Access: 12.03.2024).
[2] “Russia, NATO at Odds Over Pope’s Call for Ukraine to Show ‘White Flag’”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/11/kremlin-nato-at-odds-over-popes-call-for-ukraine-to-show-white-flag, (Date of Access: 12.03.2024).
[3] “Kremlin, NATO at Odds over Pope’s Call for Ukraine to Show ‘White Flag’ and Start Talks”, Asharq Al-Awsat, https://english.aawsat.com/world/4905626-kremlin-nato-odds-over-pope%E2%80%99s-call-ukraine-show-%E2%80%98white-flag%E2%80%99-and-start-talks, (Date of Access: 12.03.2024).
[4] “Kremlin, NATO at Odds Over Pope’s Call for Ukraine to Show ‘White Flag’ and Start Talks”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-popes-appeal-ukraine-war-is-west-2024-03-11/, (Date of Access: 12.03.2024).
[5] “Kremlin, NATO Chief at Odds Over Papal Suggestion of Ukraine-Russia Talks”, Voice of America, https://www.voanews.com/a/kremlin-nato-chief-at-odds-over-papal-suggestion-of-ukraine-russia-talks/7523327.html, (Date of Access: 12.03.2024).
[6] “Russia, NATO at Odds Over Pope’s Call for Ukraine to Show ‘White Flag’”, Al Jazeera, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/11/kremlin-nato-at-odds-over-popes-call-for-ukraine-to-show-white-flag, (Date of Access: 12.03.2024).
