UGCC Head On Negotiations: “We All Want Peace, But True Peace Is Always Just”
Ahead of Ukraine’s Independence Day, His Beatitude Sviatoslav, Father and Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, shared his thoughts on the cost of peace, the importance of negotiations, and Ukraine’s mission in the world during the program “Open Church” on Zhyve TV.
Commenting on Western European leaders’ support for Ukraine, His Beatitude Sviatoslav said: “I think that none of the European leaders would even consider going to Washington now if Ukrainian Kyiv did not play a major, and perhaps decisive, role for them today,” he said. “They understand that the fate of Europe is being decided in Kyiv today.”
The Head of the UGCC emphasized the fundamental principles that Ukraine should follow in the question of future peace. “We all want peace, but true peace is always just,” emphasized His Beatitude Sviatoslav. He firmly rejected the possibility of compromises at the expense of part of the Ukrainian people: “It is obvious that we will never be satisfied if part of our people is once again enslaved. That would not be just.”
The Primate especially emphasized the global significance of Ukrainian resistance. “If money becomes more important than human life in all these processes, then democracy and peace in the world will come to an end. That is why Ukraine is today the pivot of these global changes,” he said.
His Beatitude Sviatoslav expressed conviction that Ukraine would win, which is already happening due to the very fact of its recognition as an entity: “Russia must, in one way or another, recognize that there is an independent Kyiv and our state.”
In conclusion, the Head of the UGCC stated: “We are winning precisely because we truly belong.” He mentioned the major changes in how the world sees Ukraine: “I remember that some years ago, once Ukraine came up in conversation, everyone thought we were part of Russia. But today, even a taxi driver in New York knows that Ukraine is a separate country and Ukrainians are a separate, large, multi-million-strong people.”
The UGCC Department for Information
