Zelenskyy explains what will happen with Russian language and сhurch in Ukraine

The head of state responded to a question about whether the United States supports Russia’s position regarding the status of the Russian language and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UPTs-MP).

"In our draft framework agreement — the 20 points — everything is written in accordance with international law. International law is a fact that everyone must recognize, and it is the only thing that can unite everyone," he said.

Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine shaped its approach to certain points of the plan based on the fact that it will be a member of the European Union in the future.

"Therefore, attitudes toward such issues will be in line with European legislation — the norms that are fundamental for the European Union," the country’s leader emphasized.

The State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience determined that the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church shows signs of affiliation with the Russian Orthodox Church, whose activities are banned in Ukraine.

The study revealed signs of affiliation between the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Russian Orthodox Church, which constitutes a violation of Ukraine’s law On Freedom of Conscience and Religious Organizations. Accordingly, the Kyiv Metropolia was issued an order to eliminate the legal violation.

Later, the State Service for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience filed a lawsuit to terminate the activities of the Kyiv Metropolia of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Earlier, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that, based on information it collected, the head of the UPTs-MP, Onufriy, was stripped of Ukrainian citizenship.

It was revealed that the metropolitan holds a Russian passport. RBC-Ukraine obtained a photo of the document. According to law enforcement authorities, Metropolitan Onufriy received the Russian passport back in 2002.