Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the Phanar

On Saturday, October 31, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an official visit to Istanbul, where he met with Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. According to the website, this marks the Ukrainian leader’s fifth visit to the Phanar residence since his election.

During an hour-long conversation in the Patriarch’s office, Patriarch Bartholomew reaffirmed his unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. The Patriarch emphasized that “the Mother Church prays daily for the speedy advent of peace and justice, as well as for the return of thousands of abducted Ukrainian children to their homeland.” For his part, Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his deep gratitude for the spiritual support and congratulated the head of the Church of Constantinople on the 35th anniversary of his patriarchal ministry.

Earlier that same day, the President of Ukraine met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to discuss security issues in the Black Sea region and the ongoing hostilities. Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga was also part of the Ukrainian delegation that accompanied the head of state to the Patriarchate.

As a reminder, we previously reported that Patriarch Bartholomew of discussed the “Russian World” with the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church at the Vatican.