Ukrainian religious leaders — representing Christian, Jewish, and Muslim traditions — joined colleagues from across Europe and around the world in an during online event calling for moral solidarity on the International Day of Criminal Justice, Thursday, July 17, 2025.

Amid war, genocide, and global instability, speakers emphasized that justice, truth, faith, and forgiveness are essential for achieving peace. The gathering brought together over a hundred participants from across time zones — from New Zealand to the western United States.

The global interfaith online event, held under the banner “A Cry for Just Peace,” was initiated by the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations as a call for clear moral condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression and affirmation of a just peace for Ukraine. The event was co-organized by the Robert Schuman Centre for European Studies, directed by Jeff Fountain (Netherlands).

Orthodox, Catholic, Protestant leaders, along with representatives of other religious traditions, pledged to pray, bear witness, speak the truth, and act in pursuit of a more just and peaceful international order.

Participants underscored that prayer is not an escape from politics but a call to action—an appeal that awakens the conscience of nations and the hearts of their leaders.

In the Interfaith Declaration of Conscience and Solidarity with the People of Ukraine, participants reaffirmed Ukraine’s right to self-defense and condemned Russia’s unjust war of aggression. Grounded in shared values of human dignity, justice, and peace, the declaration rejected neutrality in the face of violence. It called for moral witness, prayer, humanitarian support, and advocacy in defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty and the need for just accountability of the aggressor.

The declaration also condemned the misuse of religion to justify violence or imperial ambitions and called upon religious communities around the world to act in solidarity through prayer, public witness, and support. It emphasized that justice, faith, truth, historical memory, forgiveness, and prayer are vital for building peace and upholding the rights of all peoples.

The full text of the Declaration is available by the provided link.

Concluding the event, participants joined together in prayer in both Ukrainian and English, reciting a well-known 1885 prayer-hymn asking God to protect Ukraine, bless it with freedom, wisdom, and love, and guide its people in light, grace, and lasting peace.