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As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, the World Council of Churches has followed the trilateral talks that took place in Geneva this week in prayerful hope for an end to this illegal aggression and the misery it has wrought. While this week’s talks concluded without the desired breakthrough, we welcome the reported signs of some progress. We hope and pray for dialogue to continue, for all parties to engage in good faith, and for the violence to cease.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian people have continued to suffer the worst impacts of Russia’s illegal aggression. Deliberate, systematic, and massive daily attacks have continued against Ukrainian population centres far from the frontline, using dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles and hundreds of drones. Ukrainian electricity infrastructure has been targeted, compounding the suffering of people left without power in the harshest winter conditions, with temperatures as low as –20°C.
After so much death and destruction, so much suffering, and so many violations of law and morality, this aggression must stop and this war must end. We pray to God to open the path to a just and sustainable peace, for justice for the victims of this aggression, and peace to prevail in Ukraine, the region and the world.
Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay
General Secretary
World Council of Churches
