The Latest on Ukraine-Russian War and How It's Bringing Ukraine Churches Closer to God

Russia to Benefit from a Ceasefire

Gumenyuk told NPR that many believe a cease-fire would benefit Russia because Russia needs some time to rearm itself. This would then give Russia the opportunity to gather or build resources for a bigger war at a time when Ukraine would likely be demobilized. 

Gumenyuk also added that there have been horrible human rights abuses and that Russia is using the territories it acquires to militarize them and organize a future larger invasion of them. 

Zelenskyy Says Russia 'Can't Be Trusted'

During the White House meeting last month, President Trump was wanting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to give the U.S. access to Ukraine's rare earth mineral resources, and has demanded that Zelenskyy should surrender territory to Russia. Zelenskyy wasn't at all keen on this, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin has broken many ceasefires, so he can't be trusted.  

Since Trump has called for a pause on equipment and intelligence sharing, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukraine, which caused Friday to be one of the deadliest days this year for civilians, according to the United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine report picked up by NBC News.

As a result, Republicans in Congress are putting pressure on the White House to reinstate aid and intelligence to Ukraine again. Interestingly, 53 percent of American voters view Zelenskyy much more favorably than Trump in connection to the disagreement the two leaders had in the Oval Office last month, according to Rasmussen Reports.  

Russian Soldiers Persecuting Christians in Ukraine

In the midst of all this, Russian soldiers have been shutting down any church that doesn't fit Putin's plans. Putin intends to make the Russian Orthodox Church the primary religion in any area his military has captured. Those worshiping in Evangelical, Protestant, or non-Russian Orthodox churches have either had to flee or secretly meet in private homes in order to avoid persecution, according to PBS. 

In an interview with The Gospel Coalition, American missionary Caleb Suko said that Ukrainians were deeply discouraged when discussions between Trump and Zelenskyy fell through. 

Suko has lived in Ukraine with his family since 2007 and said that Ukrainian Christians felt "betrayed by America and by President Trump."

He added that he also has heard people say, "This might be meant to teach Ukrainians that they should not rely on America to save them, but on God. We can see now God is using this to shift affections and hope in things."

Suko said that from his American perspective, "It was sad for me to see President Trump not supporting a country that has freedom and democracy. It helps to remember my most important citizenship is in heaven, and I think Ukrainian believers are sensing that more than ever now too. If they're going to have peace through victory in this war, we're going to have to give that praise to God, not to America or to any other country."

Some churches are doing better than others in the midst of all of this. Suko said how they're doing depends on where they're located. Those who are able are doing all they can to help those who have been devastated physically and mentally by the war. 

While churches in Ukraine felt very supported by American churches and the government in the beginning, they aren't experiencing that three years in and under the Trump administration. 

However, Suko has noticed, "In general, the war has a simplifying effect on the church. We aren't worried anymore about bells and whistles, lights and stages. If we have a room with some chairs and maybe a guitar, we don't need anything else [because that] is still meeting every spiritual need."

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