News broke late on the 5th January 2023 that Russia was going to hold a ceasefire in Ukraine over the period of the Russian Orthodox Christmas.
John Cooper, Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, said:
“The Russian-announced ceasefire in Ukraine marks the first pause by Russia in 45 weeks of fighting. We cannot let cynicism and mistrust stop us from taking hold of this potential for peace. It’s up to Russia to sustain it’s promise of a ceasefire and up to the world to ensure the fighting will not resume. If we can make the ceasefire hold, negotiations can start for a peace that respects Ukraine’s borders and delivers justice for human rights abused. War will always continue unless we take every opportunity to create space for peace to flourish”
The FoR has held a weekly prayer for peace in Ukraine, with the Methodist Peace Fellowship, Church and Peace and Cymdeithas Y Cymod, every week since the conflict started. It happens at 7.30pm on a Friday night an all are welcome. More details www.for.org.uk/ukraine
Our sister branch in the USA has been doing inspiring work uniting over 1,000 religious leaders in a call for a Christmas Day ceasefire. You can find out more about their campaign, alongside CodePink and International Peace Beauru on their website.
