On Monday, the Kremlin concurred with a statement made by Pope Francis during his interview with Swiss broadcaster RSI, in which he urged Ukraine to have the courage to engage in negotiations with Russia, two years after the initial Russian invasion of Ukraine.

“It’s understandable that [the pope] expressed support for negotiations,” stated Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov to journalists.

According to Peskov, President Putin emphasized that Russia is willing to engage in peace negotiations. However, other parties, such as the pope, have strongly rejected these statements.

Putin has proposed a freeze on the front lines of the battlefield as it currently stands, but Ukraine has rejected this idea.

An accord of this nature would involve relinquishing land that has been captured by Moscow, which comprises over one sixth of Ukraine.

According to Peskov, the Western belief of causing a “strategic defeat” on Russia is a fundamental misunderstanding. He further stated that the events on the battlefield provide undeniable proof of this.

The NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, stated that it is currently not appropriate to discuss surrender. During a speech at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Stoltenberg emphasized that any talks must ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and independence, and can only occur once Putin understands that he cannot achieve victory through warfare.

The head of NATO stated that providing military aid to Ukraine is the best approach to achieving a peaceful and lasting resolution through negotiations.

The speaker believes it is not appropriate at the moment to discuss surrendering for Ukraine. Such a decision would be catastrophic for the Ukrainian people. It would also pose a threat to everyone, as it would reinforce the idea that using military force, causing death and invading countries leads to success, based on Moscow’s actions.

Kyiv on Sunday criticized Francis’ call for Ukraine to negotiate an end to the war, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the pontiff was engaging in “virtual mediation.”

During his nightly video broadcast on Sunday, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude towards religious leaders in Ukraine who are actively involved in protecting life and humanity on the frontlines. He specifically acknowledged how these leaders offer support through prayer, conversation, and actions.

“We are the embodiment of the church,” he stated, emphasizing our connection with the people. He rejected the idea of being separate and distant from them, seeking instead to bridge the gap between those who wish to thrive and those who seek to harm us, regardless of the geographical distance between us.

According to a statement on their website, the German Bishops’ Conference stated that the decision on when to begin peace negotiations ultimately lies with Ukraine and should be made only after thorough evaluation.

Many observers were irritated by the lack of attention given by Pope Francis to the points discussed in his interview. The German bishops expressed their understanding of this frustration and requested that the Holy See provide a clear and detailed clarification of its stance on these matters.

Matteo Bruni, a spokesperson for the Vatican, addressed the criticisms on Sunday. He stated that the pope called for a cessation of hostilities and a truce through courageous negotiations, rather than expecting Ukraine to surrender entirely.

During an interview with Swiss broadcaster RSI last month, Francis was questioned about the ongoing debate regarding whether Ukraine should participate in peace talks or if such discussions would legitimize Russia’s aggressive actions.

According to Francis, the most powerful individual is someone who assesses the circumstances, considers the people involved, and demonstrates bravery by initiating negotiations.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, also denounced the pope’s statement on social media, declaring that “our national flag is yellow and blue. It represents our way of life, our ideals, and our determination. We will never hoist any other flag.”

Unfortunately, disagreements among members of the U.S. Congress are causing a delay in providing a $60 billion assistance plan to the Ukrainian military, which urgently needs ammunition.

According to recent NATO intelligence, Russia is prepared to manufacture almost three times the amount of artillery weapons for Ukraine than both the U.S. and Europe combined.

According to experts in defense, whenever Ukraine fires a shell along the front lines, Russia responds with approximately five or six. This unequal exchange limits Ukraine’s capacity to counter Russian assaults and protect its own troops while moving.

Although Russia has been ramping up its production of weapons and can sustain a faster firing rate than Ukraine, analysts in the West point out that there are limitations to this capability. As a result, Russia has sought assistance from North Korea to strengthen its ammunition supply.

The Russian military announced on Monday that it had successfully stopped multiple drone attacks from Ukraine on Russian land.

The air defense systems of the Russian defense ministry successfully eliminated four drones in the Bryansk region, two in the Oryol region, and one Ukrainian drone in the Belgorod area.

The Ministry of Defense in Ukraine released notifications on Monday cautioning about potential Russian air strikes in the Donetsk, Sumy, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv areas.

The sources for this report include Reuters, The Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse.

Source: voanews.com