RELIGIOUS DIPLOMACY IN THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR: MOSHE AZMAN'S INFLUENCE ON TRUMP ADMINISTRATION POLICY TOWARD UKRAINE

Abstract

B a c k g r o u n d. The study examines the activities of Moshe Azman as Chief Rabbi of Ukraine in his role as a religious diplomat during the 2022–2025 Russian-Ukrainian war and his influence on shaping the Trump administration's position regarding support for Ukraine. The research analyzes the Chief Rabbi's transformation from a religious leader to an influential figure in international diplomacy, his strategies for influencing the American political elite, and his use of the international Chabad-Lubavitch network. The aim of the article is to investigate the effectiveness of religious diplomacy as an instrument of influence on foreign policy decisions of leading world powers, using Moshe Azman's activities as a case study.

M e t h o d s. The article employs a complex of methods: historical analysis to study the evolution of the Chief Rabbi's activities (2022-2025), content analysis of his public speeches and statements, biographical method to research the formation of his worldview, systematic approach to examine his activities within the context of religious diplomacy theory, case study method for analyzing specific diplomatic episodes, and temporal correlation method to establish connections between Moshe Azman's activity and changes in American policy. This allowed for a comprehensive study of the mechanisms of religious-diplomatic influence on international relations. activities, media campaigns, and personal diplomacy through the international Chabad network. Key elements of his strategy included: organizing large-scale evacuation operations at the beginning of the war, creating compelling narratives about parallels between Nazi aggression and Russian invasion, targeted work with influential American religious leaders and conservative media. A significant correlation was identified between Moshe Azman's diplomatic activity and positive changes in the Trump administration's attitude toward Ukraine, particularly the transformation of the position of the president's spiritual advisor Mark Burns.

C o n cl u si o n s. The Chief Rabbi's activities demonstrate the significant potential of religious diplomacy as an alternative channel of influence on international politics, especially in conditions of crisis of trust in traditional diplomatic institutions. His experience reveals possibilities for using religious identity and transnational religious networks to build international support during military conflict. However, structural risks of diplomacy personalization and dependence on personal connections of a specific leader were identified, creating vulnerability when political elites change.