End to Russian aggression first condition for Ukraine peace–Vatican

Faithful gather to pray for peace in Ukraine, amid Russia’s invasion in Ukraine, in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, March 2, 2022. REUTERS FILE PHOTO

VATICAN CITY — The first condition for any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine is that Russia should halt its aggression, the second in command to Pope Francis said in a newspaper interview on Tuesday.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry summoned the papal nuncio on Monday to express “disappointment” with previous comments by Francis that Ukraine should “show the courage of the white flag” and open talks with Russia to end the two-year-old war.

READ: Pope urges ‘courage to negotiate’ on Ukraine war

Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, told Corriere della Sera daily on Tuesday that the Vatican was pressing for a ceasefire and “first of all it should be the aggressors who stop firing.”

READ: Ukraine, allies slam Pope Francis’ ‘white flag’ comment