When peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine struggle to gain traction, a prominent American Christian leader told him during a visit to “Stop believing in Russian propaganda” about the war. He shares the message that Ukrainian followers who conveyed it to him.
Ed Stetzer, dean of Viola University's Talbot School of Theology, on Wednesday, shortly after President Donald Trump was widely criticized for saying Ukrainian President Volodimia Zelensky had launched a war with Russia. I posted a message on social media.
“You'd never have started it. You could have made a deal,” Trump said in Florida.
Stetzer wrote to X, “Ukraine was invaded by Russia. Ukraine did not “start” it.”
Stetzer then posted a video of him standing in front of a makeshift memorial built from a destroyed car in Ukraine that was bombed by Russia.
“The Ukrainian Christians are telling me that many Christians believe in some of what they saw, that it's Russian propaganda on social media,” Stetzer said. “So I would like to encourage you to continue praying for Ukraine, but be aware of the kinds you believe in.
“When I say, 'What do you want to say to me the Americans?' and they say, 'Stop trusting Russian propaganda.' ”
Stetzer added, “Let us hear from those on the ground, brothers and sisters of Christ, who know that this is an illegal and immoral Russian invasion.”
“Stop believing in Russian propaganda about this war” was a phrase I've heard many times from the evangelical leaders of Ukrainian.
Let's hear from our brothers and sisters of Christ, those on the ground, who know that this is an illegal and immoral Russian invasion.
(This is a car… https://t.co/kxxfezu4z4 pic.twitter.com/cm9gxmzjpq
– Edstetzer (@edstetzer) February 19, 2025
The Talbot Theological School operates an extension in Kiev, Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Mission Eurasia is a ministry dedicated to training and mobilizing Christian leaders from 13 countries in the former Soviet Union, but last year, Russian military was a crime of religious persecution across Ukraine, and in 2022 It reported that at least 600 churches have been destroyed or destroyed since the invasion.
Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, urged his former boss not to blame Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian president did not 'start' this war. Russia has launched a brutal, unprovoked invasion, with hundreds of thousands of lives taken. The path to peace must be built on truth,” Pence wrote.
The Ukrainian president did not “start” this war. Russia launched an unprovoked brutal invasion that took hundreds of thousands of lives. The path to peace must be built on truth.
“Russia will invade Ukraine with its biggest European attack since World War II.” @foxnews (February 24th… pic.twitter.com/hswgdycgoz
– Mike Pence (@mike_pence) February 19, 2025
US Rep. Don Bacon, a Republican from Nebraska and chairman of the House Cyber Subcommittee, also opposed Trump.
“President Putin started this war. Putin committed a war crime,” Bacon wrote. “Putin is the dictator who killed his enemy.”
Bacon then challenged Russian defenders on his timeline. When someone wrote #notmypeoplenotmyproblem, Bacon replied, “The dummy said the same thing in 1938.”
Meanwhile, former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered a nuanced view of Trump's comments, saying the US president was trying to shock Europe.
“When will we Europeans be scandalized about Donald Trump and start helping him to end this war?
“Of course, Ukraine didn't start a war. You might say that America attacked Japan at Pearl Harbor,” Johnson wrote.
“Of course, countries undergoing violent invasion should not be set in elections. There were no general elections in the UK from 1935 to 1945.
“Of course, Zelenskyy's rating is not 4%, which is actually roughly the same as Trump's rating.
“Trump's statement is not intended to be historically accurate, but it is intended to shock Europeans with their actions,” Johnson concluded. “In particular, the US can see the $300 million frozen Russian assets – mainly in Belgium. It's cash that can be used to compensate for Ukraine's payments and US support. Why Europe is Vladimir Putin's cash? Do you want to prevent freezing? We believe that the US Belgium, France and other countries are blocking it.
When will we Europeans be scandalized about Donald Trump and start helping him to end this war?
Of course, Ukraine did not start a war. It could be said that the United States attacked Japan at Pearl Harbor.
Of course, countries that are suffering from violent invasion…
– Boris Johnson (@borisjohnson) February 19, 2025
Photo credit: ©Ed Stetzer
Michael Foot For 20 years, I have covered the intersection of faith and news. His stories appear in the Baptist Press, Christianity Today, Christian Post, Leaf Leaf, Toronto Star, Knoxville News Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's podcast! He is the host of Cross Walk Talka podcast where he talks to Christian movie stars, musicians, directors and more. Listen to famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian films, books, television and other entertainment. You can find Cross Walk Talk Above lifeaudio.comor subscribe apple or Spotify So you won't miss an interview that will surely encourage your faith.
It was originally published on February 20, 2025.
