The head of the DESS called Patriarch Bartholomew “a true friend of Ukraine”

Viktor Yelensky, head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnic Policy and Freedom of Conscience (DESS), issued a statement in which he called Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople “a true friend of Ukraine.” According to the official, the head of the Phanar is consciously taking serious risks to support the Ukrainian state.

Speaking on the Catholic station “Radio Maria,” Yelensky emphasized that Patriarch Bartholomew is taking decisive measures, the most significant of which were granting the Tomos to the OCU and signing the final communiqué at the peace summit in Switzerland. The latter move, according to Yelensky, provoked open discontent from the Turkish government; however, the Patriarch went ahead with it, guided by his desire “to stand on the side of truth.”

The representative of the Ukrainian ministry noted that while resolving the church issue in Ukraine, the head of the Phanar faced enormous pressure from Moscow. Yelensky added that the level of trust and respect for the Patriarch in Ukrainian society is well-deserved, emphasizing that the current primate has held his throne longer than any of his predecessors since the time of Byzantium.

As a reminder, we previously reported that the Patriarchate of Constantinople withdrew its signature from the final document of the Ukrainian “Peace Summit,” which took place in Switzerland on June 14–15, 2024. The Phanar’s status has changed from “signatory” to “observer.” This marks the third time the Patriarchate of Constantinople has altered its stance regarding the final communiqué of this summit.