Pope's 'white flag' comment: Zelensky sees red

New Delhi: Ukraine is fighting a war with Russia with the help of foreign aid and borrowed weapons.

After more than two years of deadly conflict, Ukraine is losing ground. International support for continuing with the war is waning gradually.

There have been suggestions that efforts should be made to broker peace as Ukraine is in no position to win this war. But whenever a peace suggestion is made, Zelensky talks about Europe's security issue and the danger to world peace. But he ignores the real issue - protracted conflict will threaten world peace and the economy.

According to a transcript quoted by Reuters news agency, the Pope was asked to comment on a debate between those who want Ukraine to seek a settlement with Russia - or wave the "white flag", as the interviewer put it - and those who argue that doing so would legitimise aggression, reports BBC. 

The Pope was quoted as saying: "The strongest one is the one who looks at the situation, thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates."

"When you see that you are defeated, that things are not going well, you have to have the courage to negotiate," he added, says the BBC report.

Now, Pope Francis's call for Kyiv to negotiate an end to its war with Russia has drawn flak from Ukraine and its President Zelensky.

Yes, Ukraine is not an aggressor in this conflict and has every right to defend its terrorists. But the question is: How long Zelensky can expect the United States and Europe to fund the war?

There are reports that a section of the army in Ukraine knows the fight can't be won and that loss of lives is only going to be surmounted in future. But Zelensky refuses to listen to such suggestions.

The Western media is not giving enough coverage to such voices. Unless dissenting voices are heard, it is impossible to what a common citizen of Ukraine wants after two years of bloody conflict.