Ukrainian World Congress urged Pope to talk with Putin to stop aggression of Russia against Ukraine
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) urged his Holiness Pope Francis to reaffirm his support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and the fundamental human rights of its people during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is scheduled for July 4, 2019 in the Vatican. It is reported by Galinfo.
In a letter sent on 21 June 2019, highlighting the humanitarian crisis that caused the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, the UWC expressed gratitude on behalf of Ukrainians around the world for the call of His Holiness to the international community to support and help in the restoration of the war-affected regions of Ukraine. The war, however, continues, and the Russian Federation continues to violate international and humanitarian law.
The UWC asked His Holiness to explicate to the Russian leader the consequences of the hybrid aggression against Ukraine, including the profound suffering of the Ukrainian people, as well as the requirement of the UWC and its network in 62 countries that the Russian Federation stops its aggression.
In addition, the UWC called on His Holiness to support the demands of the international community, including the leaders of the European Union, that the Russian Federation unconditionally release the arrested Ukrainian sailors, return the Ukrainian ships that were captured, and guarantee the safe movement of all ships through the Kerch Strait in accordance with international law.
“Long-term peace in Ukraine, in particular in the occupied territories of Crimea and Donbas, cannot be achieved without returning Crimea to Ukraine and the withdrawal of all Russian hybrid forces from the territory of Donbas in Eastern Ukraine, " said the President of the UWC and the head of the Commission of the CCU on Religious Issues Stefan Romaniv. "We call on his Holiness Pope Francis to support the restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine, the human rights and well-being of the people who suffered from this war, conveying to President Vladimir Putin the deep concern of the UWC, the Ukrainian and international community.”
On the eve of the meeting on July 5-6, 2019, convened by His Holiness Pope Francis together with the Metropolitan archbishops and members of the permanent Synod of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church (UGCC), the Commission on Religious Issues also sent a letter on July 1, 2019, to the Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav (Shevchuk), confirming unwavering support for the activities and development of the UGCC around the world and for granting to His Holiness of the Patriarchal status to the UGCC.
