Pope says Ukraine should have 'courage of the white flag' of negotiations

The Kremlin has ruled out engaging in peace talks on terms set by Kyiv.

Pope Francis gestures ahead of a mass in which Monsignor Vincenzo Turturro, Paraguay apostolic nuncio is ordained as a bishop, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican. Picture: AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

Pope Francis has said in an interview that Ukraine should have what he called the courage of the "white flag" and negotiate an end to the war with Russia that followed Moscow's full-scale invasion two years ago and that has killed tens of thousands.

Francis made his comments in an interview recorded last month with Swiss broadcaster RSI, well before Friday's latest offer by Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan to host a summit between Ukraine and Russia to end the war.