(Unofficial English translation by the CCCB)

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church

Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk

Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych

Kyiv, 3 March 2014

Prot. N. 14/17

Most Rev. Paul-André Durocher

Archbishop of Gatineau

President, Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

2500 promenade Don Reid Drive

Ottawa, ON K1H 2J2, Canada

Your Grace,

At this difficult time, when different military groups of the Russian Federation, in violation of all international and bilateral agreements, have invaded sovereign Ukrainian territory, and the Federation Council, at the demand of the Russian President, has supported the military intervention in Ukraine – we first of all invoke your solidarity in prayer for Ukraine and its people.

In our country there is no discrimination on the basis of language, national origin, or religion. Our profound and sincere desire is to build and continually improve our fraternal and friendly relations with Russia, but in a spirit of mutual respect.

We are asking your faithful and all citizens of your country to use every means at their disposal to stop this brutal invasion of Ukraine’s territory. We ask you to ignore all the propaganda and to raise awareness among your faithful and your citizens so that they will protest the Russian military’s unacceptable behaviour with practical actions and a strong, decisive voice.

In destroying Ukraine’s peace and stability, the current system of global security is at risk of destabilization, in a way surely reminiscent of the Caribbean crisis. For this reason every means must be used to avoid igniting a war in Ukraine. We are counting on your non-indifference and your most effective support to block future violence and aggression.

We are convinced that God is to be found not in power but in truth. May God protect us all.

† Sviatoslav

Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk

Major Archbishop of Kyiv-Halych

Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church