In the heart of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, amidst the hustle of daily life and the political tides that have ebbed and flowed over the centuries, stand enduring landmarks that silently speak of Palestine’s historical significance and sanctity. These sites, witness to a time when Palestine was more than a name but a vivid presence, serve as a reminder of an era before the Balfour Declaration of 1917 and the birth of many contemporary states.
The Volodymyrska Slope, one of Kyiv’s most iconic cobbled pathways, hosts a building dubbed “Palestine,” which once served as a hotel for city visitors and pilgrims. Here, the waters of the nearby Dnieper River were once filtered, providing a service essential for the residents and visitors of the 19th century. This building wasn’t just a functional establishment; it was named by Saint Volodymyr the Great, the Prince of Kyiv who baptized his children in the holy waters of the Jordan River in Palestine. In 1886, he conceived the idea of the hotel and water filtration site to transplant the blessing and sanctity of Palestine into his land for the benefit of its Christian pilgrims.
A significant stairway, still in use today, links the hotel to the riverbank and is referred to in some historical texts as the “Palestine Path.” While the original hotel no longer exists—having succumbed to the era of Soviet Communism—the name “Palestine” lives on, gracing both the stairway and the first water filtration site that served the Kyiv populace, marking one of the city’s most significant historical landmarks.
Not far from these historic sites, mere meters away lie the central governing bodies of Kyiv. Yet, despite this proximity to history, Ukraine’s stance on the ongoing and unprecedented Israeli offensive in Gaza seems unaffected by its past. The Ukrainian government initially aligned quickly and firmly with Israel at the war’s outset before the Foreign Ministry later moderated its position with a statement underscoring the importance of a two-state solution to resolve the conflict.
Most Ukrainian media outlets cover the war with a slant towards Israel, devoting extensive coverage to it, sometimes rivaling their focus on the ongoing conflict in their own territory with Russia. This Ukrainian stance is notably distinct from the typically more cautious European approach to international issues and aligns more closely with the United States’ robust support for Israel and the continuation of the conflict.
The reasons behind Ukraine’s stance, as cited by many in the Arab and Muslim communities, lie in its need to curry favor with the United States, ensuring continued substantial support in the face of Russian aggression, even if Washington’s attention might suddenly shift towards the Middle East.
This narrative of the political landscape, however, does not overshadow the historical testimony of Ukraine—a testimony that Palestine’s place and sanctity are ingrained not just in the annals of history, but in the very fabric of the city of Kyiv and its Christian community.
