The World Council of Churches has repeatedly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as illegal and immoral. This is the reality from which these negotiations must proceed.
WCC statement on the status of the ongoing negotiations
In this Advent season, as we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace, we pray for the success of the ongoing negotiations for peace in Ukraine. We pray that these negotiations will finally bring an end to the death and destruction in Ukraine, especially of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and to the terrible loss of so many precious young lives on both sides.
We especially pray that the outcome of the negotiations will not only be a temporary pause in the violence, but will deliver a just and sustainable peace for the people of Ukraine and the region.
The World Council of Churches has repeatedly condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine as illegal and immoral. This is the reality from which these negotiations must proceed. An outcome that simply rewards the aggressor and does not ensure conditions for a sustainable peace for the people whose land has been invaded could only be regarded as an abject failure of diplomacy and of moral responsibility.
In this context, the WCC is concerned that the ‘Russian World’ ideology – insofar as it removes this conflict from the realm of international relations and diplomacy and positions it instead in the metaphysical realm of the struggle between good and evil – represents a grave obstacle to meaningful negotiations for a just and sustainable peace. We appeal to all those engaged in the negotiations to commit to overcoming all such obstacles in the search for a genuine and stable peace.
We pray that God will inspire all those involved in this process with compassion and wisdom, to seek a peaceful future in this world we all share.
God, grant us Your peace.
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary
World Council of Churches