Expert: Zelensky returned to Poroshenko's stance on UOC under US pressure

Vladimir Zelensky's meeting with the head of Phanar, 16.10.20. Photo: ec-patr.org

Despite the fact that the visit of Patriarch Bartholomew will exacerbate the church schism in Ukraine, Vladimir Zelensky invited him to Ukraine under pressure from the US Embassy, which is determined to continue ousting the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Ukrainian political expert and political strategist Mikhail Pogrebinsky said in a comment for the UOJ.

In his opinion, during the elections and immediately after being elected President, Zelensky declared non-interference in the church issue, thus distancing himself from the aggressive policy of Petro Poroshenko towards the UOC. “But as he kept falling deeper and deeper under the control of the American embassy, it was made clear to him that he needed to move on with a view to ousting the canonical Church,” Pogrebinsky said. “Under pressure from the other side, he changed his position and invited Bartholomew."

As reported by the UOJ, Pogrebinsky doubts that the head of the Vatican will accept an invitation to Ukraine from Zelensky, but believes that Greek Catholics will seek the maximum benefit from it.

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