Ukrainian Catholic and Orthodox leaders have urged citizens to mobilise in defence of their homeland, as an internationally brokered ceasefire was attempted in the eastern Donbass region.
“International law and moral principles are being violated in a bid to prevent Ukrainians forcibly from independently determining their own destiny,” the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches said in a declaration.
“We will do everything in our power to stop the bloodshed, establish lasting peace and overcome hostility between peoples and nations. However, we also recognise the right of people to defend themselves when a state of aggression has been created by those who illegally took up arms with an evil intent to sow death, sorrow and tears.”
The declaration was issued as the ceasefire, negotiated between Ukrainian Government and Russian-backed separatist forces in Minsk, came into force at the weekend. Co-signed by Latin and Greek Catholic leaders, as well as Ukraine's three rival Orthodox denominations, the appeal appeared to support claims of growing national unity against perceived threats from Moscow.
Meanwhile, the Vatican’s Kiev-based nuncio confirmed the Holy See had not recognised Russia’s March 2014 annexation of Crimea and had no plans to adjust the Church’s parish or diocesan borders in the light of territorial seizures.
“The Holy See’s position on respecting international law is no different than that of the community of nations, especially concerning the territorial integrity of a sovereign country,” said US-born Archbishop Thomas Gullickson. “If the Russian Federation cannot immediately restore Ukraine’s capacity to control its frontier, it should at least close this frontier and block the inflow of fighters and arms.”
Above: A woman from the eastern Ukrainian town of Debaltseve, pictured before this week's rebel offensive there, which Nato says could threaten the ceasefire. Photo: CNS/Reuters
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