Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has responded on X/Twitter to Pope Francis following the latter's controversial remarks that Ukraine should have what he called "the courage of the white flag" and negotiate an end to the war with Russia. "How about, for balance, encouraging Putin to have the courage to withdraw his army from Ukraine? Peace would immediately ensue without the need for negotiations" - Radosław Sikorski wrote in his post.

Polish FM Radosław Sikorski. Photo by Marcin Cholewiński/PAP

After pope Francis' words caused a wide public outcry, a Vatican spokesperson issued a statement explaining his words, noting in particular that Pope Francis was calling for a ceasefire and the resumption of negations, not the surrender of Ukraine.

"Our flag is yellow-blue. This is the flag with which we live, die and win. We will never raise any other flag," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X/Twitter. The strongest is the one who stands on the side of good in the fight between good and evil and does not try to equalize them, calling it "negotiations," added the head of Ukrainian diplomacy, calling on the Vatican not to repeat historical mistakes and consistently support Ukraine and its nation in a just fight for your own life.

Commenting on the Pope's remarks, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs stressed that "One must not capitulate in face of evil, one must fight it and defeat it, so that the evil raises the white flag and capitulates".

(J)