On the criticism of peace negotiations by Uniates

Sviatoslav Shevchuk. Photo: Live Television

The head of the UGCC, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, has spoken out against peace negotiations currently being actively promoted by the new US administration. He claims that these negotiations are happening "behind our backs" and that "we are being coerced into some imaginary truce, which in no way constitutes a just peace for Ukraine."

So, what does Shevchuk propose instead? What does he consider to be a "just peace"? He insists that he communicates with God and that the Saviour "has a plan to save Ukraine". According to him, Christ "comes to me and you today and calls: 'Let us save together, let us build the future of the Ukrainian people together.'"

No details of the "Divine plan" are provided. It seems the plan is simply to keep fighting. At this point, it's worth recalling some facts.

1. The rhetoric of the UGCC (like the OCU's and the UOC-KP's) has been focused on "opposing" the enemy since the days of the Euromaidan. And that enemy is not the devil, but Putin and Russia. The end of the war for them would be catastrophic. Simply because their "military" theology would become irrelevant in an instant.

2. Shevchuk's statement is essentially a support for the position of the Ukrainian President's office. Even specific phrases (such as "being forced into a ceasefire") echo the discourse used by government spokespersons.

3. Over three years of war, 11 UGCC churches have been damaged, none of them destroyed. In comparison, the UOC has had 340 churches damaged, 31 of which were completely destroyed. This statistic is understandable. Military action has been concentrated in the eastern part of the country, where the presence of the UGCC is minimal. Almost all of the Uniate churches are concentrated in the "peaceful" western part of Ukraine. True though, Russian missiles occasionally reach there, but in general, it remains a peaceful region. Additionally, half of all UGCC parishes are abroad, in the diaspora.

4. In the summer of 2024, Shevchuk confessed live on air (thinking the microphone was off) that the UGCC hides workers involved in the construction or repair of Uniate churches from mobilisation.

In conclusion, the position of the head of the Uniates is as follows: others are suffering from the war somewhere out there, not we. Let someone else fight, but not us. We will continue to sabotage peace negotiations, even without knowing their terms, and speculate on the name of Christ.

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