Russian Presidential Spokesman Peskov Calls Pope Francis’ Urge for Ukraine Peace Talks “Very Understandable”

Russian Presidential Spokesman Peskov said on the 11th that Pope Francis’ urging for Ukraine to start peace talks with Russia is “very understandable.” (2024 Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin)

[モスクワ/ブリュッセル １１日 ロイター] – Russian Presidential Spokesman Peskov said on the 11th that Pope Francis’ urging for Ukraine to start peace talks with Russia is “extremely understandable.”

Spokesperson Peskov told reporters, “I understand that the Pope made statements in favor of negotiations,” adding that President Putin has repeatedly expressed that Russia is open to peace negotiations, but added, “Unfortunately, “Both the Pope’s statements and repeated statements by the Russian side have been completely rejected.”

He also said that the West’s desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia was a big misconception, adding: “The situation on the battlefield is the clearest proof of this.”

In an interview recorded last month, Pope Francis urged Ukraine to show “white flag courage” and negotiate an end to the war with Russia.

Ukraine objected to this. President Zelenskiy called the Pope’s “de facto mediation,” and Foreign Minister Kuleba emphasized that he would never bow down to Russia. See more North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Stoltenberg also said in an interview with Reuters on the same day that “now is not the time to talk about surrender by Ukraine,” as negotiations reflect strength on the battlefield. “Military assistance to Ukraine provides a path to a negotiated and durable peaceful solution.”See more

He added that discussing Ukraine’s surrender is “dangerous for all of us,” adding, “because by using military force, killing thousands of people, and invading other countries, you can get what you want. This is because Russia will learn the lesson.”

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As Moscow bureau chief, Guy runs coverage of Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Before Moscow, Guy ran Brexit coverage as London bureau chief (2012-2022). On the night of Brexit, his team delivered one of Reuters historic wins – reporting news of Brexit first to the world and the financial markets. Guy graduated from the London School of Economics and started his career as an intern at Bloomberg. He has spent over 14 years covering the former Soviet Union. He speaks fluent Russian.

Andrew Gray is Reuters’ European Affairs Editor. Based in Brussels, he covers NATO and the European Union and leads a pan-European team of reporters focused on diplomacy, defence and security. A journalist for almost 30 years, he has previously been based in the UK, Germany, Geneva, the Balkans, West Africa and Washington, where he reported on the Pentagon. He covered the Iraq war in 2003 and contributed a chapter to a Reuters book on the conflict. He has also worked at Politico Europe as a senior editor and podcast host, served as the main editor for a fellowship programme for journalists from the Balkans, and contributed to the BBC’s From Our Own Correspondent radio show.

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2024-03-12 01:03:00