Ex-ambassador: USA considers creation of OCU its achievement

A meeting of the US Secretary of State and the Head of the OCU in Kyiv, 6.05.2021. Photo: Epiphany Facebook page

In the United States, the creation of the OCU is considered their achievement. Former Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Valeriy Chaly said this on the air of the “Priamyi” TV channel, reports the channel's website.

“The American side ... Incidentally, this may not be known in the Office of the President. In the past period, the key foreign policy theme was freedom of religion. And the issue of the autonomous church was promoted by Ukraine with the support of our partners. The United States did – I can say this now – a lot to make this issue a reality for Ukraine. This is a huge achievement, which they consider theirs as well. Maybe this is exaggerated, but there are such sentiments,” Chaly said.

AS reported, on May 6, Kyiv hosted a meeting between the head of the OCU Epiphany and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was in Ukraine on a two-day visit. Meetings with representatives of other religious organizations in Ukraine were not provided for in the official programme of Blinken's visit. According to the experts, this is a sign of unconditional support for the OCU from the United States and a signal to the Ukrainian authorities.

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