Moscow sees Pope Francis’ controversial comments on the war in Ukraine not as a call for Ukraine to capitulate, rather as a plea for negotiation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday, according to Russian media. President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly expressed willingness to negotiate, Peskov said. “That is the preferred path.” In an interview with Swiss public television recorded in early February, Francis said the strongest actor was the one that “thinks about the people and has the courage of the white flag, and negotiates.” He did not name Ukraine or Russia in his remarks, which…