The Conference of European Churches condemned the ideology of the "Russian World" as a distortion of the Gospel

The Conference of European Churches (CEC) has issued a statement strongly condemning the ideology of «Russian peace,» calling it a fundamental distortion of the Gospel and «the driving force behind Russia’s war against Ukraine.» The document, presented at the end of an ecumenical conference in Helsinki, calls for concrete action by the churches of Europe «to foster peace, resist imperial narratives and promote reconciliation.»

According to ceceurope.org, the conference, titled «Resisting Empire, Promoting Peace,» took place December 1-3, 2025, in Helsinki, Finland. The event, organized by the CEC in cooperation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the Orthodox Church of Finland, brought together some 90 church leaders, representatives of national councils of churches, ecumenical partners and scholars. A statement issued at the end, entitled «Churches Confront the Ideology of ‘Russian Peace’,» emphasizes that Russia’s war against Ukraine, fueled by this ideology, is a military, political and humanitarian attack that threatens the lives of millions and the democratic foundations of Europe.

«The ideology of Russian World denies the national identity of Ukrainians and neighboring nations, as well as their right to self-determination,» the statement reads. The document also notes that the Russian Orthodox Church continues to provide quasi-theological and institutional support for the invasion, thereby silencing dissent among its clergy and members, and promoting so-called «traditional values» to justify Russia’s actions.

The statement sharply criticizes the ideology of Russian World as a distortion of the Gospel at its core. «Every human being bears the image of God — an imprint that cannot be erased, absorbed or redefined by another,» the text reads. This provision is the cornerstone of the Christian understanding of the human person: the human person stands before God in his or her immutable dignity, transcending nation, culture or civilization.

European churches should respond actively to the situation through the Pathways to Peace initiative, which includes two interrelated strands, Resisting Empire and Promoting Peace. Among the actions proposed are sheltering refugees and supporting displaced persons, protecting democracy and respecting international law.

In addition, it calls for strengthening «Ukrainian resistance to the ideology of ‘Russian Peace’ and its destructive consequences,» as well as challenging «the misuse of faith by the Orthodox and other Churches in Russia.» The statement also suggests developing «theological literacy capable of recognizing and challenging the misuse of religious language, for example, by resisting the temptation to conflate the Kingdom of God with any political entity or form of government,» and encouraging «the collection and preservation of the testimonies of survivors and the fallen.»

We will remind, earlier the head of the UGCC Sviatoslav Shevchuk made a statement in which he spoke out against proposals for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Ukraine through territorial concessions. Speaking at a Uniate cathedral in Australia, he questioned the effectiveness of such an approach, saying that Ukraine should not agree to demands that are acceptable to Russia.