On 26 March, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mariana Betsa met with representatives of the All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations (UCCRO) and experts on religious freedom.

The event was attended by Metropolitan Yevstratii of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (Bila Tserkva Diocese); Mitred Archpriest Oleksa Petriv, Head of the Department for External Relations of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Vitalii Kryvytskyi, Bishop-Ordinary of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine; Anatolii Raychynets, Deputy Secretary General of the Ukrainian Bible Society; Anatolii Kozachok, Senior Bishop of the Ukrainian Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith; and Oleksandr Zaiets, Chairman of the Board of the Institute for Religious Freedom.

The parties discussed current issues related to ensuring freedom of conscience and religion in Ukraine, with particular attention paid to the situation in the territories temporarily occupied by the Russian Federation in the context of the ongoing armed aggression against Ukraine. It was emphasised that it is precisely in these territories that systematic human rights violations, suppression of religious communities, persecution of clergy, and restrictions on freedom of religion by the aggressor state are being recorded.

"Today, Ukraine is fighting not only for its territorial integrity and national identity, but also for the fundamental values of the democratic world - among them freedom of conscience, religion, and human dignity. Strengthening state-confessional partnership and maintaining close engagement with international partners are therefore key to advancing Ukraine's global advocacy efforts and holding the aggressor state accountable for all crimes committed," stressed Mariana Betsa.

The participants also focused on further coordination between the UCCRO and Ukraine's diplomatic service on the international track, with a view to stepping up partner support - primarily within international organisations and forums, including the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe, and the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (Article 18 Alliance).

The parties agreed to continue close cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UCCRO to inform international partners about Russia's systematic human rights violations, including the persecution of clergy and believers, the abduction of Ukrainian children, and the destruction of places of worship.