WCC NEWS: On fourth anniversary of Russian invasion of Ukraine, WCC urges just, sustainable peace

As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, the World Council of Churches (WCC) welcomed reported signs of progress toward the cessation of violence. Hundreds of birds fly over the Vama Siret border crossing, connecting northeast Romania with Ukraine. Following the Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine since 24 February 2022, millions of refugees have fled the war across the Ukrainian border into Romania and other European countries. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 20 February 2026 WCC general secretary Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay said that the global fellowship hopes and prays for dialogue to continue, for all parties to engage in good faith, and for the violence to cease. “Meanwhile, the Ukrainian people have continued to suffer the worst impacts of Russia’s illegal aggression,” he said. “Deliberate, systematic, and massive daily attacks have continued against Ukrainian population centres far from the frontline, using dozens of ballistic and cruise missiles and hundreds of drones.” Ukrainian electricity infrastructure has been targeted, compounding the suffering of people left without power in the harshest winter conditions, with temperatures as low as –20°C. “After so much death and destruction, so much suffering, and so many violations of law and morality, this aggression must stop and this war must end,” said Pillay. “We pray to God to open the path to a just and sustainable peace, for justice for the victims of this aggression, and peace to prevail in Ukraine, the region and the world.” WCC statement on Ukraine peace talks in Geneva; 4th anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 356 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland