The first condition for any talks on ending the war in Ukraine is that Russia must halt its aggression, said Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, the second-highest-ranking official after the pope, according to Corriere della Sera. Commenting on Pope Francis’ controversial statement that Ukraine should demonstrate the “courage of the white flag” and initiate negotiations with Russia to end the two-year-long war, Parolin said the pontiff’s call is about creating conditions for a diplomatic solution in the pursuit of a just and durable peace. “In this sense it is obvious th…