Media: Rada received signals from Washington not to vote for the ban on UOC
Several factions in the Rada reported receiving "urgent signals" from the U.S. before the consideration of bill 8371.
According to Radio Svoboda, citing its own sources, on the eve of the consideration of bill No. 8371, on July 23, "urgent signals" were sent from the Ukrainian embassy in Washington – not to vote for the controversial law banning the UOC. Media reports indicate that MPs were informed that this would damage Ukraine's position in the U.S.
"Sources from Radio Svoboda in several parliamentary factions confirmed that on the eve of the consideration of the bill on July 23, 'urgent signals' were sent from the Ukrainian embassy in Washington – not to vote for the law, as it would harm Ukraine's positions and reputation overseas," the report states.
The publication recalls that in April, Ohio Senator James Vance, who became the Republican candidate for vice president, explicitly spoke about the "persecution" of Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, referring to the UOC.
"It is clear that there are concerns in Ukrainian political circles about whether this might affect American assistance – including military aid – in the event of a victory in the U.S. November elections by the Trump-Vance tandem," the publication reports.
As the UOJ wrote, a delegation of parliamentarians is traveling to the U.S. to "resolve the issue" with bill 8371.