Ian Ellis: Events in Ukraine surrounding Independence Day underscore the importance of solidarity

The UK’s commitment to supporting Ukraine was underlined by these twin events, as also by the prime minister's handing over in Kyiv of classified Storm Shadow blueprints to assist Ukraine in manufacturing its own missiles.

Ideally, of course, the war will end before any more missiles are needed, but Ukraine has to make its own defence preparations to face all eventualities.

Mr Burnham had a swift and very apt retort to Russian president Vladimir Putin when the latter said that providing the blueprints would only add fuel to the fire. The prime minister pointed out that the Russian leader had been the one who had in fact started the fire in the first place.

Indeed, in the wake of the mysterious August 25 visit of CIA director John Ratcliffe to Moscow, it was recalled how in 2021, three months before Russia invaded Ukraine and with the CIA having become aware of its plans to do so, its then director William Burns had visited Moscow to warn against any such action.

The Independence Day also saw prime minister Burnham chair a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing, with leaders of the 34-member grouping meeting in the Ukrainian capital in person or by video conferencing.

Mr Burnham said: “On Ukraine’s 35th anniversary of independence, the Ukrainian people should be in no doubt: the UK is behind you today and for as long as it takes.”

He added that the friendship between the UK and Ukraine would “long outlast Russia’s illegal war”, adding: “In both the fight and in the rebuilding to come, we will stand with Ukraine and deliver opportunities for people across both our countries.”

Such landmark days are full of symbolism and are occasions for the expression of support. It has been particularly disheartening that the United States under president Trump's second term leadership has become so equivocal about its support for Ukraine as the war-torn country defends itself against a most brutal and merciless aggression.

On the eve of the anniversary, a National Prayer Breakfast was held in Kyiv under the patronage of president Zelenskyy. It was attended by political and religious leaders, representatives of the military, and members of families of the fallen.

Mr Zelenskyy made a stirring appeal: “Please let us pray today for three important things. For those in captivity – that they all may make it through. For those in battle – that they may return. And for peace for Ukraine, that it may come – a just peace, a lasting peace, strong as our people are strong, and just.”

Former US vice-president Mike Pence told the gathering that “an occupying force may seize territory, but cannot conquer a people whose faith remains unbroken”, the Christian Daily reported.

The Conference of European Churches (CEC), of which the Church of Ireland and the Presbyterian and Methodist churches in Ireland are members, was also represented, with the grouping's general secretary, Rev Frank-Dieter Fischbach of the German Protestant Church, commenting afterwards that the prayer breakfast had been an important opportunity to meet CEC's Ukrainian partners as well as representatives of the different churches with which his organisation cooperates through its Pathways to Peace initiative.

He continued: “Together, we prayed for a just and lasting peace. We also shared in the grief and mourning for the victims of Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine and recognised the immense suffering of the Ukrainian people.

“After so many years of war, people are understandably tired. Yet their resilience remains a sign of hope. They refuse to abandon their pursuit of peace, freedom and justice. European churches must continue to listen to them, stand alongside them and ensure that the world does not become accustomed to this war.”

According to CEC, its Pathways to Peace initiative “amplifies Ukrainian voices and supports advocacy for justice, reconciliation and a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and across Europe”.

The reports of the prayer breakfast and of the Independence Day ceremonies underscore the importance of solidarity. Words can convey moral encouragement and for that reason are important in themselves, although if commitments, declarations and promises are not followed through, any encouragement soon evaporates and the whole exercise is seen as a hollow pretence.

In a statement regarding Ukraine's Independence Day, the European Union said that the occasion symbolised the journey the nation had travelled over the past 35 years to become “a modern, democratic and European country”.

The EU also took the opportunity to reaffirm its “unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”, noting that since the country's full-scale invasion by Russia in February 2022 it had provided Ukraine with unprecedented humanitarian, financial and military assistance”, adding that so far that assistance has amounted to €220.2 billion.

The statement asserted that “Ukraine’s prosperity is Europe’s prosperity, and Ukraine’s security is Europe’s security”.

Without doubt, Ukraine and its allies' futures are inextricably linked.

l Canon Ian Ellis is a former editor of The Church of Ireland Gazette