Pope Francis has drawn criticism for suggesting that Ukraine should demonstrate the “courage of the white flag” and engage in negotiations to bring an end to the conflict with Russia.

In an interview with Swiss broadcaster Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) released on Saturday, Francis was questioned about whether he believes negotiations would “legitimize the stronger party.”

“That is one interpretation,” he replied. “But I believe that the stronger one is the one who sees the situation, who thinks of the people, who has the courage of the white flag, to negotiate.” The pope added, “and today, negotiations are possible with the help of international powers.”

The remarks prompted a quick reaction from Kyiv, where tens of thousands have lost their lives, as the city strives to reclaim all territories seized by Russia, CNN reported.

“Our flag is a yellow and blue one. This is the flag by which we live, die, and prevail. We shall never raise any other flags,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a post on social media Sunday.

“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’,” he said.

Written by B.C. Begley