Talking Points Ukraine: March 11, 2024 direct from Kyiv

The Pope's words on Ukraine are wrong, 20 Days in Mariupol won an Oscar, and Ukrainian Defense Forces are being reinforced!

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1.) The Vatican’s flawed peace proposal for Ukraine:

• Pope Francis urged Ukraine to have “courage of the white flag and negotiate” with Russia.

• Before speaking out on Ukraine, we urge Pope Francis to make an Apostolic Visit to the country to support more than a million Ukrainian Catholics, more than five million Greek Catholics, all Christians, and every Ukrainian experiencing genocide and war regardless of religion or faith.

• Despite having the best intentions, by calling for negotiations, the Pope is standing with the Russian invaders in their bloodthirsty destruction of the Ukrainian people and culture.

• Pope Francis could use his authority to call on the dictator Putin to withdraw the Russian army from Ukraine. With the withdrawal of Russian troops, peace will be restored immediately without negotiations.

2.) The world witnessed Ukraine’s cultural know-how last night at the Academy Awards. At the same time, a global audience received a reminder of the Russian genocide against the Ukrainian people:

The team behind 20 Days in Mariupol at the film’s Kyiv premiere. Photo Credit Sarah Ashton-Cirillo

• The Ukrainian documentary film 20 Days in Mariupol, directed by Mstyslav Chernov, won the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award - the Oscar. This is the first time in history that a Ukrainian film has won the most prestigious award in the film.

• Footage for the film 20 Days in Mariupol was shot during the barbaric siege of the city by Russian troops. Ukrainian journalists, risking their lives, documented the lives of Mariupol residents and smuggled the footage through enemy checkpoints.

• Russia came to Ukraine as invaders, murderers, and colonizers. Moscow’s crimes will neither be forgotten nor forgiven.

3.) The increasing strength of the Ukrainian Defense Forces:

• Ukraine is rapidly erecting powerful defensive positions along the line of contact and in the rear. This will further raise the price of an invasive war for Russia.

• The Czech Republic is ready to transfer 800,000 artillery shells to Ukraine within a few weeks, while Ukraine’s French partners are strengthening Europe's moral readiness for the possible involvement of its military engagement against the Kremlin’s troops.