National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC: Ukrainian delegation calls on the world to support the struggle for religious freedom
This year’s National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., brought together more than 2,500 participants from 120 countries and 46 U.S. states. It is an important annual event that brings together political leaders, religious leaders, businessmen and civic activists in common prayer and spiritual dialogue.
Highlights of the 2025 National Prayer Breakfast
Donald Trump personally attended the event and made loud statements, including his intention to stop the war in Ukraine. He also announced the creation of a commission on religious freedom, criticizing Joe Biden’s administration for allegedly “persecuting” religious activists who oppose abortion.
The event was co-hosted by two congressmen, a Catholic Democrat and a Protestant Republican, who emphasized the importance of unity across political and national lines:
“We are united by Christ, and each of us has the same color of blood.”
The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, had the honor of reading a fragment of the Holy Scriptures.
For the first time in many years, a group of Russian pastors took part in the event, which caused a protest from the Ukrainian delegation, which expressed its disagreement outside the Hilton Hotel.
Ukraine’s strong presence: the largest delegation in history
This year, Ukraine sent the largest delegation to Washington, D.C., ever to participate in the National Prayer Breakfast. The Ukrainian delegation included:
- More than 100 pastors, politicians, military chaplains and clergy
- Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Metropolitan Epifaniy I
- Members of parliament and public figures
Ukrainian representatives emphasized that Russia violates religious freedom, especially by persecuting Christians who do not belong to the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC).
“We want to convey to the international community that the protection of religious freedom is one of the key reasons for continuing to support Ukraine,” said Pavlo Unguryan, former MP and coordinator of the Ukrainian delegation.
Religious freedom as an argument for international support
The Ukrainian delegation sought to convey to U.S. political leaders the importance of:
- Protecting religious freedom in the occupied territories
- Supporting Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression
- To show the strength and vitality of Christian churches in Ukraine, where about 70% of the population identify themselves as religious
These efforts are aimed at influencing Donald Trump’s supporters, among whom there are skeptics about further military and financial assistance to Ukraine.
Ukrainian pastors, politicians, and chaplains emphasized that supporting Ukraine in the war against Russia is not only a matter of geopolitics, but also a struggle for basic human rights and freedoms, including freedom of religion.
