Delegation of the AUCCRO Discussed Ukraine's European Integration with MEPs
Religious leaders of Ukraine discussed the challenges of wartime and countering the ideology of the "Russian world" in the European Parliament.
On June 24, 2026, a delegation of the AUCCRO held a series of meetings in Brussels with European politicians and religious leaders, focused on issues of European integration and the protection of freedom of religion.
In the European Parliament building, Ukrainian delegates met with Members of the European Parliament M. Haler, P. Toveri, and T. Rütten. The participants discussed the activities of religious communities under wartime conditions, as well as the challenges that religious denominations will face during the country's post-war reconstruction.
Representatives of the Council stated that the Russian Federation is using religion as a weapon in its hybrid war against Ukraine. According to the participants of the negotiations, Russian religious organizations are actively supporting military aggression and are complicit in crimes against humanity by promoting the ideology of the "Russian World."
The delegation discussed Ukraine's accession to the EU and the role of Churches as civil society institutions in this process with European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos and experts from the cabinet of K. Kallas. Religious leaders noted that European integration remains a priority for Ukrainian society.
During the meeting with COMECE Secretary General Manuel Barrios Prieto, representatives of the AUCCRO paid particular attention to documented cases of religious persecution in territories occupied by the Russian Federation. At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties offered a prayer for the end of the war and the establishment of a just peace in Ukraine.
The delegation's visit to Brussels is taking place with the support of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation's representation in Ukraine. Earlier, on June 22, representatives of Ukrainian religious denominations had already held consultations with experts from European non-governmental organizations.
