Ukraine should be included in the peace process on an equal footing, - Patriarch Bartholomew

The head of the Church of Constantinople, Patriarch Bartholomew, has stated the need to include Ukraine in the peaceful settlement process. Bartholomew emphasized that the country’s sovereignty cannot be discussed, adding that no nation has the right to enslave the will of another. He said this during a Sunday sermon, according to Orthodoxia.info.

“No force can destroy the spirit of a people who refuse to bend. No nation has the right to impose its will on another, and no force can erase the history of a nation. Ukraine’s sovereignty is not negotiable and cannot be subject to negotiation under the guise of diplomacy. As we continue to ask the Lord to guide leaders in the search for peace, we recognize that true peace cannot be dictated by violence or external whims. This process must include Ukraine as an equal participant, reaffirm its right to exist without fear, and heal the wounds of a war-torn land. We recognize the tireless efforts of President Zelensky to protect and safeguard the sovereignty and integrity of Ukraine,” — said the head of Phanar.

It should be noted that earlier the Office of the Primate of the Polish Autocephalous Orthodox Church published a statement by Metropolitan Sawa of Warsaw and All Poland dedicated to the third anniversary of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The first hierarch drew attention to the troubles brought by the war, calling for prayers for the speedy restoration of peace in Ukraine.