Following Meeting of Presidents Trump and Putin - Ukrainian Archbishop of Philadelphia says "we are in the Lord's hands and His truth will prevail" FULL TEXT
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a special Alaska summit on Aug. 15 to address the war on Ukraine. Metropolitan Archbishop Borys A. Gudziak of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia issued a strongly worded statement on the encounter.
(Image Source: Official White House Facebook Page of Trump and Putin at the Alaska Summit)
On Aug. 16th, President Trump wrote: ""A great and very successful day in Alaska... It was determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement... President Zelenskyy will be coming to D.C., the Oval Office, on Monday..." - President Donald J. Trump
Archbishop Gudziak, who leads Ukrainian Catholics in the U.S., posted his statement following the two leaders three hour meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
The meeting was expanded to include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and two Russian officials, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov.
Archbishop Borys Gudziak’s Statement for the Press on the Meeting in AlaskaAugust 16, 2025
I will be blunt: a genocidal war criminal—who speaks explicitly about his aggressive intentions to re-conquer the countries that freed themselves from the atheistic Soviet yoke—was welcomed on American territory and given red carpet treatment. The desultory discussions did not lead to a single concession on the part of the aggressor. Having ordered another barrage of deadly bombings on the day of the summit he was allowed to stand together with the president of the United States before a press conference backdrop “Pursuing Peace.”
The worst did not happen, those standing for freedom and the innocent citizens of Ukraine were not sold out—but the cause of freedom, justice and peace was not advanced.
This morning's prayer in our cathedral on the feast of the Dormition was one of confidence in the Lord and the protection of the Mother of God.
There is a great illusion that the mighty of this world determine history, decide our fate.
They do indeed have an impact, more often than not negative.
But the truth is that we are in the Lord's hands and His truth will prevail.
And as David stands against Goliath, we've seen one miracle after another.
And that miracle is the life, resilience and solidarity of the little ones who are willing to risk everything for the truth—the truth of human dignity, the truth of God-given freedom, and the truth that evil will not prevail.
Given the tremendous buildup, the hype regarding this meeting, it is clear that not much happened, providentially so.
The fundamental moral and geopolitical questions are not yet being faced squarely — neither by Russia nor the West. Until they do Ukrainians will be paying the ultimate price.
+ Borys
Ukrainian Catholic metropolitan of Philadelphia
https://ukrcatholic.org/news-and-updates/archbishop-borys-gudziaks-statement-for-the-press-on-the-meeting-in-alaska
Archbishop Gudziak, who leads Ukrainian Catholics in the U.S., posted his statement following the two leaders three hour meeting at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.
The meeting was expanded to include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and two Russian officials, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov and foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov.
Archbishop Borys Gudziak’s Statement for the Press on the Meeting in AlaskaAugust 16, 2025
I will be blunt: a genocidal war criminal—who speaks explicitly about his aggressive intentions to re-conquer the countries that freed themselves from the atheistic Soviet yoke—was welcomed on American territory and given red carpet treatment. The desultory discussions did not lead to a single concession on the part of the aggressor. Having ordered another barrage of deadly bombings on the day of the summit he was allowed to stand together with the president of the United States before a press conference backdrop “Pursuing Peace.”
The worst did not happen, those standing for freedom and the innocent citizens of Ukraine were not sold out—but the cause of freedom, justice and peace was not advanced.
This morning's prayer in our cathedral on the feast of the Dormition was one of confidence in the Lord and the protection of the Mother of God.
There is a great illusion that the mighty of this world determine history, decide our fate.
They do indeed have an impact, more often than not negative.
But the truth is that we are in the Lord's hands and His truth will prevail.
And as David stands against Goliath, we've seen one miracle after another.
And that miracle is the life, resilience and solidarity of the little ones who are willing to risk everything for the truth—the truth of human dignity, the truth of God-given freedom, and the truth that evil will not prevail.
Given the tremendous buildup, the hype regarding this meeting, it is clear that not much happened, providentially so.
The fundamental moral and geopolitical questions are not yet being faced squarely — neither by Russia nor the West. Until they do Ukrainians will be paying the ultimate price.
+ Borys
Ukrainian Catholic metropolitan of Philadelphia
https://ukrcatholic.org/news-and-updates/archbishop-borys-gudziaks-statement-for-the-press-on-the-meeting-in-alaska
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