Diplomat: Our red lines are not territory but language and church
Lana Zerkal. Photo: Radio Svoboda
Lana Zerkal, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine and former Deputy Foreign Minister (2014–2019), said in an interview with Radio Svoboda what she believes are Ukraine’s true “red lines” in negotiations with Russia.
“I don’t think the issue is framed for us in such a way that territory is our red line,” Zerkal asserted. According to her, statehood is preserved not through land, but through faith and language.
“Statehood cannot be maintained if we are forced to accept the Russian Church (clearly referring to the UOC – Ed.) and the Russian language. And we must maintain our army. These are our three key factors and red lines,” the diplomat stated.
Zerkal also claimed that the issues of faith and language were central to the 2022 Istanbul agreements, which she referred to dismissively as “just a piece of paper.”
Earlier, the UOJ reported that, according to Mykyta Poturaev, those who oppose the law banning the UOC are threatening national security.
Read also
Instead of Christmas: Zelensky declares January 7 Programmer’s Day
Zelensky decided that January 7 is the most appropriate date for introducing a new holiday.
OCU equates UOC’s losses from “transfers” with losses caused by occupation
In Dumenko’s circle, the losses suffered by the UOC due to so-called “voluntary transfers” to the OCU were equated with losses resulting from occupation and the re-subordination of communities to the Russian Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan of Cherkasy discharged from hospital after poisoning
After inpatient treatment, His Eminence Theodosiy has visibly lost weight.
UOC Social Department delivers gifts to Okhmatdyt patients
Clergy congratulated patients of the Kyiv hospital on the St Nicholas feast day and the upcoming holidays.
US bans schools from concealing children’s “gender transitions” from parents
Schools in California have abolished the so-called “gender secrecy policy”.
UOC releases updated “Liturgical Guidelines” app for iOS
The new update includes liturgical guidelines for 2026.