National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine comments on Vatican’s peace mission

03.05.2023, 13:05
Ukraine and world
National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine comments on Vatican’s peace mission - фото 1
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov stated his opposition to any agreements reached behind the backs of Ukrainians.

He said this while commenting on peace initiatives by the Vatican on Radio Liberty.

Danilov said he respected Pope Francis but made it clear that any decision regarding the war in Ukraine must be approved by Ukrainian civil society. "If the decision is unfair, we will never be able to accept it because we understand what honor, dignity, and justice mean, especially after such a bloody war that Russia is waging," he said.

He also noted that it was difficult to say what initiative the Pope was referring to, adding that "no one is going to make any deals under the rug." Danilov reiterated Ukraine's four unchanging positions: "the borders of 1991, criminal punishment for all those who participated in this war, full compensation for the damage caused to our country by Russia, and guarantees of security for our country."

On April 30th, Pope Francis stated that the Vatican is part of the mission to end the war in Ukraine. "The mission is ongoing, but it has not yet been made public. When it becomes public, I will reveal it," he said after a three-day visit to Hungary.