Latest news with #UkrainianCatholicCathedral
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
No ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender, Trafalgar Square vigil told
A warning that 'no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender' has been made at a Trafalgar Square vigil marking the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. More than 1,000 people filled the central London square on Monday evening in a gathering also attended by MPs. The president of the Ukrainian World Congress criticised the US for wavering on its support for Ukraine. In a pre-recorded speech, streamed on to a large screen, Paul Grod warned: 'If Ukraine falls, Europe is next – this is not just Ukraine's fight, this is a fight for the future of freedom.' The president of the international non-governmental organisation (NGO), which represents Ukrainian communities in more than 60 countries, described 'the horrors, the systemic kidnapping, the torture, and the abuse of Ukraine's most vulnerable, its children'. 'No tyrant can be allowed to redraw borders by force, no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender,' he said. 'This is not a conflict where deals can be made, you cannot negotiate with someone who is seeking to destroy you. 'Today we face a troubling moment – for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion, the United States has begun to waver. 'This week the US refused to co-sponsor a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's war – this is unacceptable. Now more than ever the world must stand united, Ukraine's fight is the world's fight.' Mr Grod emphasised that Ukraine is a democracy and 'every major opposition party' has agreed to postpone elections until the end of the war. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin 'has ruled for 25 years by jailing and murdering his opponents', adding: 'He is not a leader he's a dictator.' Last week US President Donald Trump described Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky as 'a dictator without elections' in a tirade on social media. Mr Grod said: 'We must be absolutely clear, Russia will not stop unless it is defeated. 'Putin will never stop, his goal is not just Ukrainian land, he wants to erase Ukraine as a nation.' He added that 'de-Nazification is a mask for genocide'. Moscow said the 'de-Nazification' of Ukraine was one of the key goals of the invasion. Organisers of the Trafalgar Square gathering included the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Support Ukraine, the British-Ukrainian Aid charity, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and St Mary's Ukrainian School. Earlier on Monday shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel joined other MPs at a prayer service at a Ukrainian church in central London. Hymns, prayers and a commemorative candle lighting were delivered during the hour-long interfaith service at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Westminster. Dame Priti was joined by migration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra and the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
No ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender, Trafalgar Square vigil told
A warning that 'no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender' has been made at a Trafalgar Square vigil marking the third anniversary of the Russian invasion. More than 1,000 people filled the central London square on Monday evening in a gathering also attended by MPs. The president of the Ukrainian World Congress criticised the US for wavering on its support for Ukraine. In a pre-recorded speech, streamed on to a large screen, Paul Grod warned: 'If Ukraine falls, Europe is next – this is not just Ukraine's fight, this is a fight for the future of freedom.' The president of the international non-governmental organisation (NGO), which represents Ukrainian communities in more than 60 countries, described 'the horrors, the systemic kidnapping, the torture, and the abuse of Ukraine's most vulnerable, its children'. 'No tyrant can be allowed to redraw borders by force, no ally should pressure Ukraine to surrender,' he said. 'This is not a conflict where deals can be made, you cannot negotiate with someone who is seeking to destroy you. 'Today we face a troubling moment – for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion, the United States has begun to waver. 'This week the US refused to co-sponsor a United Nations resolution condemning Russia's war – this is unacceptable. Now more than ever the world must stand united, Ukraine's fight is the world's fight.' Mr Grod emphasised that Ukraine is a democracy and 'every major opposition party' has agreed to postpone elections until the end of the war. He said Russian President Vladimir Putin 'has ruled for 25 years by jailing and murdering his opponents', adding: 'He is not a leader he's a dictator.' Last week US President Donald Trump described Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky as 'a dictator without elections' in a tirade on social media. Mr Grod said: 'We must be absolutely clear, Russia will not stop unless it is defeated. 'Putin will never stop, his goal is not just Ukrainian land, he wants to erase Ukraine as a nation.' He added that 'de-Nazification is a mask for genocide'. Moscow said the 'de-Nazification' of Ukraine was one of the key goals of the invasion. Organisers of the Trafalgar Square gathering included the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Family of London, Support Ukraine, the British-Ukrainian Aid charity, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and St Mary's Ukrainian School. Earlier on Monday shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel joined other MPs at a prayer service at a Ukrainian church in central London. Hymns, prayers and a commemorative candle lighting were delivered during the hour-long interfaith service at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Westminster. Dame Priti was joined by migration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra and the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
The Independent
24-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
MPs attend prayer service at Ukrainian church in London to mark anniversary
The shadow foreign secretary was among MPs who attended a prayer service at a Ukrainian church in central London to mark the third anniversary of Russia's invasion. Hymns, prayers and a commemorative candle lighting were delivered during the hour-long interfaith service at the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Westminster on Monday. Dame Priti Patel was joined at the service by migration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra and the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The church has been a place of worship for Ukrainian Catholics in the city for almost 50 years. The service opened with workers and volunteers from the Ukrainian Welcome Centre forming a procession to light three remembrance candles at the front of the cathedral, while members of the cathedral choir sang the hymn Under Your Grace. Taras Mykhalchuk, pastor of Saints Peter and Paul's Garrison Church in Lviv, in western Ukraine, gave a powerful testimony of his experiences in an area ravaged by the war. He told the service the church would sometimes conduct funerals, marriage ceremonies and baptisms of Ukrainian military personnel all in one morning. Mr Mykhalchuk thanked the British public for their support, adding: 'We really feel your friendly shoulder.' Several faith leaders were then invited to offer prayers, including the Bishop of London Dame Sarah Mullally and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg. Gen Zaluzhnyi, who met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Kyiv last month, said in a short speech: 'For three years, our people have been fighting for not just our land, but for our freedom and justice. 'Ukraine did not choose this war, but we choose to fight to defend our cause, our families and our future.' The envoy said Ukraine was 'deeply grateful' to the UK, adding; 'Your support gives us strength and hope.' The service ended with renditions of both the spiritual anthem of Ukraine and God Save The King. Some attendees could be seen wearing Ukrainian flags draped over their clothing. Sir Keir said in a remote address to a gathering of Ukraine's allies in Kyiv on Monday that a new package of UK sanctions would be imposed on Russia to get President Vladimir Putin 'not just to talk, but to make concessions'. A rally will be taking place in Trafalgar Square on Monday evening as part of further anniversary commemorations.
