Chief Rabbi discusses religious freedom in Ukraine with State Dept official
The participants discussed attacks on religious buildings and cases of pressure on believers.
Ukraine’s Chief Rabbi met with Spencer Chretien, a U.S. State Department official responsible for European policy and issues of religious freedom. The two sides reviewed the current state of religious rights and freedoms in Ukraine and discussed the impact of the war on the country’s religious life.
The participants paid particular attention to attacks on places of worship and cases of pressure on believers in territories under temporary occupation. The rabbi stressed that today various religious communities in Ukraine are enduring the trials of war together and praying for the victory of good over evil.
The diplomats and religious leaders also discussed continued U.S. support for Ukraine and noted the symbolism of upcoming anniversaries – the 35th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence and the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The rabbi thanked the American side for its attention to the issue of religious rights and for understanding that Ukraine is today defending the values of the entire free world.
As the UOJ reported, in its recent 2025 report, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe included the situation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in its annual review of discrimination against Christians in Europe.
