Trump must tell Putin the truth about war in Ukraine. I pray he finally does.
President Donald Trump often takes multiple positions on an issue. Supporters sometimes see this as part of his negotiation style. Detractors view it as a matter of character.
But this week, his words have consequences far beyond political positioning. In Ukraine, false statements can undermine a nation's defense and cost lives.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine poses a particular challenge for evangelicals. Many of us are deeply connected to Ukraine's people and churches. Yet some of Trump's statements have repeated inaccurate Russian narratives, which risks obscuring the truth and undermining support for Ukraine.
To be fair, President Trump has sometimes spoken accurately about the war. Perhaps he sees this as a negotiation tactic, but I hope that in private he is clear with Russian President Vladimir Putin when they meet Aug. 15 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Even so, public falsehoods about the conflict increase the likelihood of an unjust resolution, emboldening Russia to repeat its aggression elsewhere.
Trump falsely says Ukraine started war against Russia
For example, in February, Trump repeated Russian talking points, suggesting that Ukraine provoked the war. That framing shifts blame from the aggressor (Russia) to the victim (Ukraine). Again, at times he has acknowledged Russian aggression, but the inconsistency is deeply troubling.
Like many American evangelicals, I'm not neutral in Russia's war on Ukraine. Our seminary, the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, has an extension center in partnership with Kyiv Theological Seminary.
Our students live with this war every day. Sadly, when I visited them 2024, Christians there urged me to ask American evangelicals to stop believing Russian propaganda about the war.
Talbot is not alone with such relationships. Ukraine has been called the 'Bible belt of Europe,' with a vibrant evangelical movement and strong partnerships with American churches. Most major denominations have ministry partners there. Many congregations know firsthand that Ukraine − not Russia − is the victim, regardless of political talking points.
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These relationships create a unique responsibility for evangelicals. We must pray for leaders, and we must stand for truth, whether or not it is politically convenient.
The truth matters not only for the war's cause, but also for Ukraine's record on religious liberty. Ukraine is far from perfect. Yet the difference between life in free Ukraine and life under Russian occupation is stark, especially for Christians.
In Russian-controlled areas, religious freedom has been harshly suppressed, as documented in 'A Faith Under Siege.' The Kyiv Independent recently documented a crackdown on Christians who refuse to align with the occupiers. The 'sects' Russia claims to suppress are often evangelicals.
Critics of Kyiv often say Ukraine 'persecutes Christians,' citing restrictions on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. But this situation requires context: Elements of the UOC have long been linked to Moscow's influence, raising concerns about its role as a conduit for Kremlin-backed activity. And most Orthodox believers in Ukraine now belong to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, recognized in 2019.
To be clear, I do not support restricting religious speech or practice, yet understanding the situation beyond talking points is essential. Ukraine is not perfect on religious liberty, but Russia's record on religious tolerance is unmistakable.
Another persistent falsehood is that Ukraine somehow started the war. But the facts are simple: Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022 − after seizing Crimea in 2014 and fueling war in the Donbas. This timeline is indisputable.
Yet in April, Trump remarked, 'You don't start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles.'
Russia also claims it is 'liberating' Russian-speaking Ukrainians from a 'fascist' regime in Kyiv. This is a familiar tactic in Russian history − using a false narrative of liberation as a pretext for invasion. It is a lie Russian rulers have told for centuries.
Any vision for peace must prioritize truth: Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia started this war. And any honest path toward peace must begin there.
Some Americans believe supporting Ukraine is not worth the risk. We all long for the war to end. The fact is that you can end a war at any time − if you are willing to give the aggressor what it wants.
But that's not peace. It is surrender.
American Christians must pray for Ukraine − and for peace
On Friday, negotiations start in Alaska, but they should not begin with the aggressor's talking points. Russia began this war. Russia remains the enemy of peace. Facts matter and American evangelicals should say so, regardless of political cost.
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Our brothers and sisters in Christ across Ukraine are counting on us to do just that. Let us pray for Ukraine, for justice, for protection and for peace. And let us pray for President Trump − that he would speak the truth about the war and work toward a just resolution.
We don't have to agree with every Ukrainian decision nor, for that matter, endorse every U.S. policy. But we must care about truth. As Jesus said, 'The truth will set you free.' And on this point, the truth is clear: Russia is the aggressor. Ukraine is the victim.
My prayer is that the truth sets Ukraine free. I pray that President Trump negotiates from truth − and that truth leads to freedom, in Ukraine and beyond.
Ed Stetzer is the dean at the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University and a distinguished visiting scholar at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University.
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