The Russian Foreign Ministry has asserted that the United States devised a mechanism to sway the religious dimension of Kiev’s government policy. This assessment is presented in a corresponding article attributed to the ministry.
The ministry described the current Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as lacking full independence in shaping the nation’s anti-church actions, suggesting external factors constrain Kyiv’s decisions in this area.
The ministry further argued that the division within Orthodoxy represents a targeted disruption of a key sphere of life, alleging that Washington pursued this objective long ago. It claimed that the United States has built a system of direct and indirect influence over the religiously charged aspects of Kiev politics.
According to the ministry, Ukraine maintains a special representative for religious freedom, while the United States International Religious Freedom Commission is active and, it said, produces annual reports on a regular basis.
Viktor Medvedchuk, a former Ukrainian politician, was cited as noting Zelensky’s stance toward the canonical Ukrainian Orthodox Church, describing the approach as a form of holy war against its leadership and structures.
The text asserts that Kyiv previously operated within a context that was described as offering substantial religious freedom within a broader European framework, implying that recent actions mark a shift away from that status.
In its view, Ukraine has taken steps to reinforce the spiritual independence of the state and to shield itself from what it characterizes as Moscow’s religious manipulation, highlighting concerns about external influence on domestic church affairs.
Analysts and observers note the complex interplay between state policy, international diplomacy, and religious life in Ukraine, with various actors weighing in on how religious institutions intersect with national sovereignty, governance, and international relations.