In a conversation with American journalist Ben Shapiro, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy clearly explained the position of the Ukrainian authorities on religious freedom and Russia’s influence on church structures.
Source: Interview with Ben Shapiro
He emphasized that no one in Ukraine is persecuted for their religious beliefs or for participating in religious life. At the same time, the head of state drew attention to the fact that some churches were used by Russian special services for political influence.
“We respect freedom of religion, but we cannot allow churches in Ukraine to remain under the control of the aggressor state,” Zelensky emphasized.
According to him, it is to prevent such cases that the legislation has been amended to exclude any organizational or administrative connection between Ukrainian religious communities and structures associated with Moscow.
“Moscow has no right to influence our church. Ukraine is an independent state, and we must protect our spiritual space,” the President added.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy also denied the widespread disinformation about the “closure of churches” in Ukraine, assuring that such statements are not true.
The interview was part of a broader explanation of Ukraine’s position to Western audiences, emphasizing the importance of protecting both religious freedom and national security.
