Zelensky reacted to the Pope's statement about the "white flag"

Russian murderers are not going further in Europe only because they are being held back under the blue-yellow flag by Ukrainians and Ukrainian women with weapons in their hands. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this on 10 March, alluding to the Pope 's recent words about the "white flag".

Russian murderers and stanzas do not go further in Europe only because they are held back by Ukrainians and Ukrainian women with weapons in their hands and under the blue-yellow flag. There are many once white-walled houses and churches in Ukraine that are now burnt and smashed by Russian shells. And this speaks very eloquently about who exactly must stop for the war to stop," Vladimir Zelensky said in a video message.

According to Zelensky, when the Russian Federation launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, all Ukrainians - Christians, Muslims, Jews - stood up in defence of the country.

And I thank every Ukrainian chaplain who - with the army, in the Defence Forces. There, on the front line. Defending life and humanity. They support them with prayer, conversation and deeds. That's what the Church is - with people. And not two and a half thousand kilometres away - somewhere there to engage in virtual mediation between those who want to live and those who want to destroy you, - said the President.

Reuters yesterday published a translation of a fragment of the Pope's interview with RSI TV channel. In the interview, the pontiff, answering the question whether Ukraine should raise the "white flag" and go to negotiations with the Russian Federation, supported such a position.

"I think the stronger one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people, has the courage of the 'white flag' and negotiates," Pope Francis said.

The Vatican said afterwards that the Pope did not mean Ukraine's surrender. According to the head of the Vatican press service, Matteo Bruni, the pontiff spoke exclusively about the need for negotiations.