As the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approached, a sense of urgency to end the Russia-Ukraine war emanating from the United States created a flurry of traffic on social media and in news outlets.  

Fr. Janko Herbut, the pastor of St. Stephen Protomartyr Ukrainian Catholic Church in Calgary, was among those drawn to this burst of information flowing around the talks to bring the conflict to an end. 

“We are being bombarded with something new in the news every day,” said the priest ordained in the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton in 2000.

Herbut wants to hold back on offering an appraisal on the separate — perhaps joint in the not too distant future — negotiations members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration are conducting with senior Ukrainian and Russian officials. 

In recent days, Trump announced that in the coming days, his senior staff would engage in peace talks with their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia, and the President could also meet face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Middle Eastern country. 

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio conducted a summit meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 14. 

While Trump’s desire to end three years of bloodshed that began when Russian forces invaded its neighbouring nation-state on Feb. 24, 2022, has garnered support in some corners, European leaders have expressed concern about how the continent has not yet been afforded an in-person seat at the negotiating table. Zelenskyy is also absent from the high-level talks.

Concerns also abound that the Trump White House’s approach to date lends too much weight to Russian talking points — namely Ukraine seeking NATO membership exacerbated tensions — and some fear that may result in too many concessions to Putin. Fr. Andrew T. Onuferko, the vicar general of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada, communicated sentiments of this nature in an email to The Catholic Register.

“I can safely say that people are dismayed that much of the rhetoric coming from the Trump administration seems to be working from a Russian disinformation template,” wrote Onuferko. “Many of the myths and lies used to justify Russian aggression, invasion and occupation of Ukraine seem to be accepted at face value. That is both troubling and disappointing. There seems to be no desire to hold Putin accountable or curtail his ultranationalist, neo-imperialistic and neo-colonial ambitions.”

One of Trump’s oft-repeated lines during his many 2024 campaign rallies is that he did successfully keep Putin in check during his first term as Russia did not invade any country. He also claimed several times that he would end the war on his first day in office, which of course has yet to happen.

There are multiple facets to the talks just getting underway. Reportedly, Russia now controls 20 per cent of Ukrainian land. Zelenskyy has stated in recent months that he is willing to cede territory to end the conflict if his country was afforded NATO protection. U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth told the Ukraine Defense Contact Group alliance of 57 countries on Feb. 12 that the “United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement.” In recent days, Zelenskyy has said he would not consider any agreement reached on ending the war that doesn’t include Ukraine’s involvement.   

Another key matter is what the European post-war security arrangement will look like following the cessation of Russo-Ukrainian hostilities and Trump following through on his reported plan to withdraw 20 per cent of U.S. troops from the continent. 

If peace indeed breaks out, Ukrainian nationals who escaped the war by migrating to Canada will have to contemplate if they wish to return to their homeland or perhaps request permanent residency in Canada. 

“I have not heard any of them say yet that they would go back right now,” said Herbut. “But some of them are expressing that they are struggling with their new life and a different way of living here. Language is of course the major obstacle right now for many, and finding a job, which is very scarce right now even though some of them came with good education and professions back in Ukraine.”

Herbut has already written letters to support the permanent residency applications of several refugees in his five months serving St. Stephen Protomartyr.

The parish’s international trust fund continues to supply international charities working in Ukraine with monetary aid, and the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton joins its brethren from across the country in contributing to the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) in its relief efforts.

Onuferko expressed gratitude to all Canadian Catholics who have contributed to the humanitarian efforts over the past three years. He asked for Canadians to continue standing in solidarity with Ukraine as the anniversary of Russia’s invasion is upon us.

“As for the Ukrainian people, I couldn’t be more proud of their resistance against all odds,” said Onuferko. “They truly represent the best in all of us.”

Each month Onuferko travels to St. John’s and Corner Brook in Newfoundland and Labrador to minister to Ukrainian refugees. Before celebrating the Eucharist, he invites the people to mention the names of loved ones who remain in Ukraine, especially if they lost their lives. The congregation then prays together for the departed souls.