Yoshimasa Hayashi, Chief Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan, responded to the Pope's contentious proposal regarding Ukraine's raising of a "white flag," as per Nikkei's report.
The Chief Secretary emphasized that the approach to negotiations shaping Ukraine's future, including the character of ceasefire talks, should be guided by the will of the Ukrainian people.
Hayashi went on to denounce the commencement of early voting for the Russian presidential election in Ukraine's occupied territories, condemning the act of "conducting elections on the basis of illegal annexation" as "unacceptable."
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| Image - Yoshimasa Hayashi, the Chief Secretary of the Cabinet of Ministers of Japan, Credit - Shutterstock |
International Reactions to Vatican's Remarks -
During a recent interview with Swiss broadcaster RSI, the Pope expressed that "the stronger will be the one who has the courage to raise the white flag" and highlighted the bravery of negotiation, urging talks "before it's too late."
The Pope's comments generated widespread discourse, prompting Matteo Bruni, the head of the Vatican's press office, to clarify that the Pope had simply reiterated the journalist's mention of a "white flag."
Additionally, the Pope reportedly reiterated his "deep attachment" to the Ukrainian people. His statements garnered considerable attention, with Ukraine expressing criticism and concerns raised by Poland and Latvia.
Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, responded to the Pope's statement, asserting that Ukraine's flag is blue and yellow, and they will not raise any other flags.
Similarly, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered a poignant critique of the Pope's peace call, highlighting the destruction caused by Russian military actions and questioning who truly needs to cease aggression to bring an end to the war.
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