Tensions within the Ukraine church emerge post Alaska meeting

The Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) has made a firm stand against demands for Russia's Orthodox Church and language to be granted official status in Ukraine. This decision comes in response to media reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made such demands during his Aug. 15 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The UCCRO, a coordinating body with no canonical or decision-making authority over individual churches, stated that the law enacted in August 2024 was necessitated by Russian Orthodox actions. The pro-Russian UOC, a significant religious community in Ukraine, has been given a deadline by Kyiv authorities to sever ties with Russia's Moscow Patriarchate.

The UOC's refusal to comply with the deadline was rejected by the UCCRO. Bishop Sobilo, of the Catholic Church, stated that it is up to Ukraine's security services to ensure members of the Moscow-linked UOC are not spreading anti-Ukrainian propaganda.

The UCCRO expressed concern about potential 'asymmetric' obligations concerning the special status of the Russian language, culture, the Russian Orthodox Church, or participation in international organizations. The law does not prohibit the UOC, but establishes "democratic and legal procedures" for suing church communities which retain links with Russia.

The UCCRO supports Ukraine in defending its legitimate interests at the international level and building relations with other states based on the principle of 'reciprocity.' The Geneva-based World Council of Churches has called on its member-denominations to support UCCRO's appeal for a World Day of Prayer on Aug. 24, the anniversary of Ukraine's post-Soviet independence.

The Pope has requested prayers that efforts to promote peace may bear fruit and that the common good of peoples would "always be placed first." Several European countries, notably the Baltic states and Poland, have imposed restrictions or taken measures against the Russian Orthodox Church due to its close ties with the Russian state and its perceived role in supporting destructive activities such as the justification of the Ukraine invasion.

As European heads of government held further online consultations following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's Aug. 18 talks in Washington with Trump, the UCCRO upholds freedom of speech and faith, and emphasizes the importance of every religious community feeling at home in Ukraine.

Restricting religious rights could damage Ukraine's image and impede an end to the war by alienating clergy and faithful directly affected. Several countries have imposed restrictions on the Russian Orthodox Church due to its 'destructive activities.' Bishop Sobilo warned that many parts of eastern Ukraine remain Russian-speaking, with most Christians belonging to Ukraine's Moscow-linked Orthodox Church.

Trump is reportedly seeking direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy following the White House meeting. The exchanges took place amidst ongoing concerns about religious freedom violations in Ukraine, as documented in numerous reports. The UCCRO, in its stance, emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that respects both Ukraine's sovereignty and the rights of all religious communities within its borders.