General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsYesterday The Senate Foreign Relations Committee released this statement on Russia's bombing of Ukraine:
https://www.foreign.senate.gov/press/dem/release/ranking-member-shaheen-senators-tillis-rosen-barrasso-coons-king-moran-merkley-van-hollen-statement-on-russias-christmas-bombing-of-ukraine?WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), John Barrasso (R-WY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Angus King (I-ME), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) released the statement below on Russias killing of civilians as Christians around the world celebrate the Christmas holiday.
We condemn Russias brutal attacks on Kherson, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Donetsk and Kryvyi Rih waged on innocent Ukrainians as they convened to mark the birth of the Prince of Peace with their loved ones and in prayer.
It bears repeating that President Zelenskyy agreed to a Christmas truce, but Putin declined, yet he directs soldiers to continue to commit brutal crimes of aggression on one of Christianitys holiest days.
Even for countries at war, there is a long history of Christmas ceasefires, including notably during World War I. Todays decision by Putin to launch attacks rather than hold fire is a sobering reminder for us all: Putin is a ruthless murderer who has no interest in peace and cannot be trusted.
We stand with the people of Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, Kherson and Donetsk marking the birth of Christ under the most challenging of circumstances. Ukrainians faith is a stronger force than the evil unleashed today by the Kremlin.
Yesterday, Putin not satiated with the Christmas Day carnage across Ukraine, escalated, launching its most significant attack on Kyiv perhaps at any time since he first invaded Ukraine in 2014:
surfered
(11,207 posts)I was hoping for a little more support, but theyre still afraid of their Dear Leader.
Amaryllis
(10,937 posts)surfered
(11,207 posts)Amaryllis
(10,937 posts)where) that he supports Ukraine and not Putin.
QED
(3,253 posts)Raven123
(7,480 posts)patphil
(8,679 posts)A loveless man such as him has no interest in any gesture of "good will towards men".
For him, Christmas is a perfect time to express the darkness within him; the perfect time to cause pain, suffering, death, and destruction.
He hates everything that brings joy to people; everything that allows people to express love.
gerryatwork
(97 posts)Before I re-read it I thought you were describing Trump.
patphil
(8,679 posts)mdbl
(8,040 posts)How could that be bad?
liberalgunwilltravel
(1,060 posts)Trump hasnt congratulated Putin yet on his wonderful Christmas presents to the Ukrainians. The worthless piece of shit!
ChicagoTeamster
(391 posts)He has to be able to say to the American Christian Nationalists that he's protecting Christians. Even though they really don't care about the lives of non white non Americans.
Conjuay
(2,874 posts)January 7th as Christmas 🎄.My Ukrainian inlaws do.
Emrys
(8,910 posts)Many Ukrainians will on Monday celebrate Christmas Day on December 25 for the first time, after the government changed the date from the Orthodox Church observance of January 7 in a snub to Russia. Ukraine passed a law in July moving the celebration to December 25, the day when most of the Christian world marks Christmas.
...
The Orthodox Church of Ukraine, a newly created independent church that held its first service in 2019, has also changed its Christmas date to December 25.
It formally broke away from the Russian Orthodox Church over Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
The political rift has seen priests and even entire parishes swap from one church to another, with the new Orthodox Church of Ukraine growing fast and taking over several Russia-linked church buildings in moves supported by the government.
The historically Russia-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church, meanwhile, is keeping the January 7 Christmas date. This church claims to have cut ties with Russia because of the war but many Ukrainians view this with scepticism.
The country's third Orthodox denomination, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, will also hold Christmas services on December 25.
https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20231224-ukrainians-defy-moscow-with-first-dec-25-christmas
Conjuay
(2,874 posts)Everything is moving too quickly for me!
Conjuay
(2,874 posts)We did hear from a family member that they were celebrating on 1/7.
They have celebrated the 'old' calendar so long, I guess they decided to continue with the old traditions.