Primate of the UOC-KP Filaret could have headed the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) in exchange for support of the integration of Ukraine into the Customs Union.
This is stated in the story by TSN.Tyzhden. Rector of the Nativity Church Mykola Salabay said that after Metropolitan Volodymyr of the UOC-MP fell ill, the Kyiv Patriarchate got a proposal from Moscow. “It was an informal meeting with some proposals as for the future of the Ukrainian Church”, he said. The proposal was received in the middle of the past year. “Kremlin strategy” instructor Vadim Minhalyov visited us for this reason. His proposal to the Primate of the Kyiv Patriarchate resembled a biblical temptation.
“In order to exert pressure on me, I was offered a meeting with Patriarch Kirill regarding my leadership of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, i.e. that of the Kyiv and the Moscow Patriarchates, as well as of the UAOC, though in Patriarch Kirill’s jurisdiction. I said categorical ‘No’,” said Patriarch Filaret.
As it was noted in the story by TSN, Patriarch Kirill imposed conditions on Patriarch Filaret through Minhalyov: the Kyiv Patriarchate, which has 15 million parishioners, should denounce its support of European integration, and return to the idea of the "Russian World" and the benefits of the Customs Union. Otherwise, Minhalyov promised to Patriarch Filaret that Ukraine would be seized in another way.
Fr. Nicholas Salabay added that he was present at the meeting and vividly remembered what exactly was promised. In particular, it was stated that there would be riots in Ukraine and the gas war, as Moscow's patience was running out, so drastic action against Ukraine would be taken and the integrity will not be guaranteed.