Washington, D.C. — May 29, 2025 — Capitol Hill played host to a distinguished assembly of congressional leaders, diplomats, religious figures, and international guests for the Congressional Prayer Breakfast: Peace and Cooperation — a high-level event focused on faith, freedom, and conservative values in global governance.
At the heart of the event was Congressman Mark Green, Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, who served as the main keynote speaker and honorary host. His address set the tone for the morning, underscoring the critical importance of faith in public life, principled leadership, and global cooperation in times of conflict.
“At a time when democracies face existential threats from authoritarian regimes, gatherings like the Congressional Prayer Breakfast remind us of the power of faith to unite people across borders,” said Congressman Green. “Our commitment to liberty, to moral leadership, and to standing with our allies—like Israel and Ukraine—is rooted not only in policy, but in principle. As leaders, we must be guided by both conviction and compassion.”
Congressman Green’s leadership and vision were central to the breakfast’s mission, drawing bipartisan appreciation and uniting attendees around the shared values of spiritual conviction, global solidarity, and democratic resilience.
The event was co-chaired by Robert Ilatov, founder of the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, a global initiative uniting faith and political leaders to promote peace and uphold shared Judeo-Christian values. Co-organized by the Institute for Democracy and Development “PolitA”, a Washington- and Kyiv-based think tank led by Kateryna Odarchenko, the breakfast highlighted the role of spiritual leadership in addressing international challenges, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, and Eastern Europe.
“When people come together with purpose, even the material becomes sacred,” said Kateryna Odarchenko. “We live in times when moral clarity matters more than ever. This is the call of our time—for leaders to stand not with fear, but with faith. Not with calculation, but with conviction.”
Robert Ilatov added:
“Prayer must lead to action. We pray for peace, and we must act on those prayers—to stop war and begin the hard work of negotiation. We are grateful to those who joined us this morning in both meal and mission.”
In a moving address, Oksana Markarova, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United States, emphasized the spiritual and historic parallels between Ukraine and Israel:
“No one wants peace more than Ukrainians. Our two nations are ancient peoples living on historic lands, still fighting for the right to exist. We must pray—and act—for peace and for the strength of our statehood, which protects all people regardless of faith or ethnicity.”
Other distinguished speakers included Ambassador John Herbst, senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, who addressed growing global security threats from Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
The event featured three panel discussions exploring the role of faith and conservative values in post-conflict recovery, humanitarian response, and international cooperation:
Panel 1: Peacebuilding Initiatives in the Middle East and Europe
- The role of interfaith dialogue in Israel and Ukraine
- Conservative approaches to conflict resolution
- Spiritual leadership in diplomacy and national resilience
Panel 2: Humanitarian Challenges During and After War
- Faith-based responses to crises in Gaza, Ukraine, and beyond
- Promoting dignity, family values, and sovereignty in aid
- Religious organizations protecting vulnerable populations
Panel 3: A Vision for the Future After War
- Rebuilding with faith and freedom: Post-war strategies
- Moral governance, economic renewal, and civic responsibility
- Strengthening alliances rooted in conservative and democratic principles
Notable speakers and guests included:
- Duvi Honig – Founder & CEO, Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce;
- Peter Huessy – President and Senior Director of Strategic Deterrent Studies at GeoStrategic Analysis;
- Adam W. Schindler – Chief Digital Officer, America First Policy Institute; ordained pastor and political analyst
- Anna Yabluchanska – Medical Aid Program Director, United Help Ukraine
- Roman Palchykov – Founder, Charitable Foundation “The First Fund for the Restoration of Ukraine”
- Ruslan Antoniuk – PhD (doctor of philosophy)
- Ezra Friedlander – VP, Public Policy, Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce; CEO, The Friedlander Group
- Shelby Magid – Deputy Director, Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center
- Vadym Melnyk – Expert in economic security and law
- Matt London – Researcher, Georgetown University’s Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies
The Congressional Prayer Breakfast: Peace and Cooperation affirmed the enduring importance of faith-based leadership and principled diplomacy in a world marked by war and uncertainty.
