The theme of 鈥渉ope鈥� was chosen long before this year鈥檚 of Washington-Kyiv relations, but participants at an international Ukrainian studies conference said that hope is needed more than ever 鈥� not only in Ukraine but in the United States itself.
Religious leaders, scholars, artists and diplomats have been gathering at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana since Thursday for a three-day conference focused on 鈥淩evolutions of Hope: Resilience and Recovery in Ukraine.鈥�
But hope may be hard to summon at a conference that brought together supporters of Ukraine鈥檚 resistance to Russia鈥檚 . It came just a week after a in which U.S. President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 鈥� followed by the U.S. military aid and intelligence-sharing.
Those at the conference said it鈥檚 important that Ukraine and its supporters maintain hope 鈥� not as a pie-in-the-sky sentiment but as a force that energizes their resistance.
鈥淭oday, our enemy is trying to make Ukraine a symbol of failure and ruin,鈥� said Taras Dobko, rector of Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. "To live by hope in such a country means to be on a mission, to bring hope where it hurts, where things fall apart and where anxiety overwhelms.鈥�
But, he added, hope is motivating Ukrainians to resist. 鈥淗ope is not only a spiritual resource, not only a source of strength for individuals in difficult times, but also a strategic security asset.鈥�
The conference, organized by Notre Dame鈥檚 Nanovic Institute for European Studies in tandem with Ukrainian Catholic University, included speakers, an art exhibition and prayers for peace.
The conference also featured remarks from the top-ranking Ukrainian Catholic official in the United States as well as Ukraine鈥檚 ambassador to Washington, who warned that Russia is trying to delegitimize Ukraine鈥檚 claims to statehood.
鈥淚t is the war on multiple fronts,鈥� Ambassador Oksana Markarova said in a pre-recorded video statement played at the conference Thursday. 鈥淥ur brave soldiers and civilians defend Ukraine鈥檚 physical and spiritual integrity while we diplomats, scholars and experts continue our efforts on information fronts by educating American and international societies about what is really at stake and why Ukraine resists so persistently and so relentlessly, even in the most difficult situations.鈥�
Markarova did not mention last Friday鈥檚 disastrous Oval Office meeting, which she attended.
But she said it鈥檚 important to recognize that 鈥渁ppropriation of Ukraine鈥檚 culture and denial of our national identity remains the key avenue of Russia鈥檚 criminal war against Ukraine.鈥�
She said it鈥檚 important to 鈥渞estore historical justice and deny Russia any claims over Ukraine and our statehood.鈥�
Ukrainians鈥� initiative in defending themselves against Russia 鈥渄eserves respect,鈥� said Archbishop Borys Gudziak, in his keynote presentation at the conference. Gudziak heads the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia and is president of Ukrainian Catholic University.
Ukraine is not asking for pity, he said, but added: 鈥淲hen a bully is attacking it, it needs a little bit of solidarity."
Gudziak said that hope has motivated Ukrainians to fight or do vital civilian work such as repairing war-damaged power grids, recognizing that 鈥渕y life is important, but maybe there鈥檚 something bigger than my life.鈥�
He added that the temptation to despair is wide these days.
鈥淚 walked the halls of Washington a lot in the last few weeks,鈥� Gudziak said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of scared people, talented diplomats in the State Department who don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going to happen tomorrow in all these government offices.鈥�
He said it's important to honor workers' human dignity during this time.
鈥淚 hope that today Ukraine can give America hope to not be afraid," he said. 鈥淪ay what is true. Witness. Make the stand for the immigrants, for the poor, for the unjustly fired. Because it鈥檚 easy to get crushed by fear. There鈥檚 great trepidation today in Ukraine, but there鈥檚 also a trust, a trust in God.鈥�
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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP鈥檚 with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
Peter Smith (), The Associated Press
