Representing over 1200 US faith communities, sponsors of the Christmas Truce in Ukraine petition respond
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Ariel Gold | ariel@forusa.org | 510-599-5330
Bill McGarvey | bill@mcg-media.com | 201-725-4202
On the eve of the Orthodox celebration of Christmas on January 7th Russian President Vladimir V. Putin called for a 36-hour Christmas Truce beginning at noon on January 6th and ending at midnight on January 7th. Putin ordered his Defense Ministry to implement the cease-fire hours after Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill I called for a truce to allow Orthodox Christians on both sides of the front line in Ukraine to attend Christmas services.
As signatories to the Christmas Truce in Ukraine petition, representing over 1200 faith communities in the United States, we ask the question: When is it a bad idea to pursue peace?
We must magnify this small ray of light as much as possible.
We urge people of faith and conscience yearning for peace to reach out to our nation’s political leaders. Our leaders in Washington have worked diligently to support and underwrite the Ukrainian’s defense against the Russian invasion. We ask them now to use their power to convince the Ukraine leadership that this is a small window of opportunity that they must take.
Call the White House: 202-456-1111
Call the Congressional switchboard that can connect you to your representatives: 202-224-3121
From the Christmas Truce Sponsors:
FOR-USA Executive Director, Ariel Gold: “As the oldest interfaith peace organization in the United States, FOR-USA echoes the sentiments of the legendary peace warrior AJ Muste that ‘there is no WAY to peace, peace IS the way.’ In that spirit we join with the Russian Patriarch in calling for this 36-hour Christmas Truce in the hopes that it could possibly lead to a more lasting cease fire.”
CODEPINK Co-founder Medea Benjamin said, “This Christmas truce from Russia’s side is a tiny ray of light in a horrific war. Ukraine should seize the moment and join the truce, and from there all sides need to move to the negotiating table without preconditions. The entire world is crying out for an end to this war. This could be the beginning of a true dialogue.”
Marcy Winograd from the Peace in Ukraine Coalition, “A truce would set the stage for a negotiated peace to end a US-Russia proxy war that threatens nuclear catastrophe. It is incumbent upon Congress and the White House to acknowledge there is no military solution and appeal to Zelensky to support this truce.”
National Council of Elder’s founding member, Zoharah Simmons: “Peace is possible if we want it. A ceasefire during Christmas time gives us a chance to pause in the calm. That peaceful pause leaves the door open to the possibility of diplomacy and negotiations that could end the suffering of Ukrainians and the destruction of their country.”
