Zelensky: Putin meddles in Ukraine’s church affairs, dictating baptism

Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: YouTube / Newsmax

In an interview with the American TV channel Newsmax, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for interfering in Ukraine’s religious matters.

“They bring up questions, for example, about the Russian Church. Listen – it’s a matter of personal will! And Putin barges in here – sorry, right under the church bell – telling people how they should be baptized,” Zelensky said, possibly referring to widespread reports of churches of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) being seized in favor of the OCU.

“It’s a matter of personal choice – a person can go to a church, a mosque, a synagogue, and so on. It’s the will of the people,” the president emphasized.

According to Zelensky, Putin “talks about how much respect should be shown to the Russian Church” (apparently meaning the UOC – Ed.), but the Ukrainian head of state said he doesn’t understand why that should be the case.

“This isn’t even a matter of the state – it’s a matter of the Church,” Zelensky stated. “The state and the Church are separated by the constitution – as is the case in most countries, including Ukraine. So these are just things he [Putin] writes to show: ‘This is my Russian World, and I’m bringing it to the countries where I see their future as part of Russia.’”

Earlier, Zelensky claimed that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church is controlled by former operatives of the Soviet KGB.

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