‘We are profoundly grateful to the American people’: Archbishop Gudziak on fractious White House meeting
John Lavenburg/Crux• March 1, 2025
Ukrainian Archbishop Borys Gudziak has spoken out on the tense meeting that occurred between President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Commenting on the meeting that took place in the White House on 28 February during which the three leaders openly clashed, the Ukrainian archbishop highlighted five words: “Unity. Dignity. Resilience. Sacrifice. Gratitude.”
Gudziak, who leads the Ukrainian Archeparchy of Philadelphia, and is president of the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv, told Crux in an email: “These are the words that are in my heart on this turbulent day. These words define modern Ukrainian history. They have become even more pronounced over the years of Russian aggression against Ukraine.”
He added: “Today, their significance is singular. Their embodiment in action will help us persevere – not only now but in the days and weeks ahead.”
In the Oval Office with cameras rolling, a meeting between Trump, Vance and Zelensky turned tense. Trump and Vance accused Zelensky of being disrespectful and ungrateful for the support Ukraine has received from the United States.
Trump and Zelensky were due to sign a deal on sharing Ukraine’s mineral riches and to discuss a peace deal with Russia. “You’re not acting at all thankful. It’s not a nice thing,” Trump said. “It’s going to be very hard to do business like this,” he added.
Zelensky tried to get his view over as Trump and Vance made their criticisms, resulting in the leaders often talking over each other in a spectacle that has amazed, if not shocked, around the world; ultimately the Ukrainian leader departed the White House without the two sides signing a minerals deal, as they were expected to.
Gudziak, in his message to Crux, didn’t touch on the content of the meeting itself, but highlighted the gratitude the Ukrainian people feel toward the American people for their support, and how it’s enabled them to persist through the war for more than three years.
“The Ukrainian people – soldiers and civilians alike, the government, the Church and civil society – are profoundly grateful to the American people and to all people of goodwill across the world [that number] in the hundreds of millions. For every word and every deed, for every prayer,” Gudziak said.
“Your support empowers Ukrainians to defend their God-given dignity, protect innocent lives and uphold the values of the democratic world. This solidarity has strengthened our resilience, enabling a modern-day David to stand against a ruthless Goliath – against shameless aggression and genocide that seek to obliterate our people and undermine international rule of law.”
Gudziak also emphasised that in the present moment the Ukrainian people need unity.
“Today, Ukrainians need unity,” Gudziak said. “Unity rooted in truth has the power to stop evil. Ukraine does not seek pity; it asks for support to protect its people, its cities and villages, to defend the truth about humanity, to defend God’s truth.
“Ukraine needs unity of people – of every nation and every citizen – to establish a just peace, a peace Ukrainians long for more than anyone and for which they are making the ultimate sacrifice.”
Photo: US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, 28 February 2025. (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images.)