Leaders of Ukrainian religious communities in the United States are increasingly speaking out in defense of Ukraine, calling for solidarity and continued assistance in the war against Russian aggression. The calls come amid intensified attacks by Russia and uncertainty about Washington’s position on military support for Kyiv.
Source: Holosameryky
A Christian call for solidarity
After a heated argument in the Oval Office between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over further military support for Ukraine, American Christian leaders of Ukrainian descent expressed concern about the situation.
“Weapons in the hands of murderers destroy lives, in the hands of defenders they save lives,” said Archbishop Daniel (Zelinsky), hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA (Ecumenical Patriarchate), emphasizing that Ukraine is only defending its citizens from a genocidal war.
Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia called on Americans to support Ukrainians who “pay the highest price for the values shared by the free world.” He emphasized that Ukraine’s struggle is not only a matter of territorial integrity, but also the defense of fundamental human rights and democracy.
Protection of Ukrainian refugees in the United States
In addition to military assistance, Ukrainian Christian leaders are demanding protection for Ukrainians who are in the United States under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and United for Ukraine (U4U) programs. The Council of Ukrainian Christian Churches of Washington State has sent an official appeal to President Donald Trump asking him not to cancel these programs.
“Many Ukrainian families have miraculously survived thanks to the humanity of the American people. The United States has always been a safe haven for the persecuted and victims of war,” reads the statement signed by the council’s chairman, Pastor Oleksandr Savchuk.
The US President has not yet made a final decision on TPS for Ukrainians. During a press conference on March 6, Donald Trump said that the issue was being studied and assured that he did not want to “harm” Ukrainian refugees.
American Christians choose sides
At an international conference at the University of Notre Dame, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak noted that Ukraine can become a source of hope for Americans in times of global challenges.
“Tell the truth. Testify. Stand up for immigrants, for the poor, for the unjustly persecuted. Do not let fear paralyze you,” he emphasized.
The American Christian community has an opportunity to demonstrate its values in practice – to support those who suffer from war, to defend the persecuted and to stand together for truth and justice.
