ISTANBUL

Ukraine’s president said late Sunday that Ukrainian forces have not allowed the Russian army to advance towards Europe.

“Russian murderers and torture chambers are unable to march further into Europe because they are being held back by Ukrainians holding arms under the blue and yellow flag,” Volodymr Zelenskyy said in a video message.

“When Russian evil launched this war on February 24th, 2022, all Ukrainians rose up to defend their country. Christians, Muslims, Jews — everyone,” he added.

Zelenskyy said the Russian army has been continuing its air attacks on Ukraine, but “we will further enhance our firepower and Ukrainian air defense. More air defense systems and other means of destruction of Russian aviation bring peace closer. I am grateful to everyone in the world who helps us with this. Ukraine will have more air defense systems – we are working very hard on this.”

In his video message, he also dismissed Pope Francis’ call for Ukraine to enter peace talks with Russia.

“There used to be many white walls of houses and churches in Ukraine, but they have now been burned and damaged by Russian shells. This speaks volumes about who needs to stop for the war to end,” he said.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also harshly criticized the Pope on Sunday for calling on his nation to have “the courage to raise the white flag,” implicitly calling for its surrender to Russian forces.​​​​​​​

"The strongest is the one who, in the battle between good and evil, stands on the side of good rather than attempting to put them on the same footing and call it ‘negotiations.’ At the same time, when it comes to the white flag, we know this Vatican's strategy from the first half of the 20th century. I urge to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past and to support Ukraine and its people in their just struggle for their lives," Kuleba said.