"The issue of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church may become a bargaining chip with Putin," - political scientist Bondarenko

Ukrainian political analyst Kostyantyn Bondarenko has commented on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent statement in which he announced the ban on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Bondarenko believes that the head of state is deliberately raising the degree of controversy in order to strengthen his position in the imminent negotiations with the Russian president, where the Ukrainian Orthodox Church will become one of the subjects of bargaining. About this the political scientist wrote in his Telegram-channel.

“British advisers have already convinced Zelensky that it is necessary to bring the degree of passions to the highest point. Go to negotiations with Russia will still have to. But in this case, the issues of the Russian language and the status of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church may become a bargaining chip with Putin. Bartholomew, realizing this, has been given the go-ahead to take from the UOC everything he can rake under his thumb. Only one question remains unresolved: what if Moore’s office miscalculated and Russia will not raise the issues of neither language nor religion? Or after the events in Kursk region and the vote on the bill 8371 will not negotiate at all? The window of opportunity has slammed shut. We forget everything that was talked about during the last months on the lines of Burns and Naryshkin. We have exchanged spies and continue fighting,” – Bondarenko writes.