On April 22, 2025, in Kyiv, the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) met with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting took place at the Metropolitan House of the National Reserve “St. Sophia of Kyiv.”

The Head of State extended Easter greetings to representatives of Christian Churches and wished a blessed Passover to the Jewish community. He also expressed gratitude to clergy of various denominations for their prayers and support of Ukrainian soldiers and society as a whole during the war.

During the meeting, the President expressed condolences on the death of Pope Francis. Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged the role of the Pontiff and the Vatican in the return of Ukrainian children and the release of prisoners.

The heads of the denominations thanked the President for his service to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. They emphasized the importance of further developing military chaplaincy within the Armed Forces of Ukraine and expanding opportunities for clergy to provide spiritual care to Ukrainians who have been forced to leave the country due to Russian aggression. They also spoke about the international efforts of Churches and religious organizations and the challenges they face in this sphere.

Separately, the Church and religious leaders highlighted the demographic challenges facing Ukrainian society and the need for appropriate measures to strengthen support for the institution of the family in Ukraine. This includes the establishment of a central executive authority dedicated to family affairs and the adoption of a national program to support families.

“Ukrainian families, as the inseparable foundation of the Ukrainian people, bear the burden of the war for Ukraine’s independence — the loss of loved ones, health, homes, separation, orphaned children, and more. The family, being the foundation of Ukrainian society and the natural environment for human life and development, requires genuine support from the state,” said the current Chair of the UCCRO, Valerii Antoniuk, Head of the All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christian-Baptist Churches.

During the meeting, the President informed the religious leaders of Ukraine’s position on an unconditional ceasefire. “Ukraine is the first to want this war to end. In the coming days, important meetings will take place involving representatives of both the U.S. and Europe,” he noted.

The Head of State thanked the Churches and religious organizations for advocating international support for Ukraine, aimed at achieving a just and lasting peace, sharing the truth about the war and the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people, and clarifying the real situation regarding freedom of conscience in the country.

The President also noted that the government had established the Ministry of National Unity specifically to ensure that Ukrainians forced to flee their homes due to Russian aggression remain connected to their homeland. To support them, Unity Hubs are being opened in other countries.

Participating in the meeting alongside the President of Ukraine and UCCRO members were: Vice Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity, Oleksii Chernyshov; Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Olena Kovalska; and Head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience, Viktor Yelenskyi.