On 24 July 2001 Metropolitan Kiril, a permanent member of the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) and head of the Department of External Church Relations, met with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma in Kyiv. They discussed the situation of Orthodoxy in Ukraine.
At the meeting, which lasted more than an hour, Metropolitan Kiril presented President Kuchma with a text on the fundamentals of the social conception of the ROC. Kuchma expressed his intention to study the document and acknowledged that it is very important for him to know how the ROC sees the development of mutual relations with the state and society.
Metropolitan Kiril informed the president about the ongoing discussions between the Patriarchates of Moscow and Constantinople which the Ukrainian Orthodox Church-Moscow Patriarchate has taken part in. He also explained his vision of the future of Orthodoxy in Ukraine. In an interview with strana.ru, Metropolitan Kiril admitted “In my conversation with the president I very briefly expressed my distress at the absence of a single Orthodox Church in Ukraine. President Kuchma considers that the absence of such a Church weakens the role of Orthodoxy in this essential period for the development of Ukrainian society.” The metropolitan then commented on the meetings between the three major Orthodox Churches in Ukraine which were held in Zurich, Switzerland from July 14 to 16. “It is well-known that discussions began in Zurich directed at lessening the separation [between the Churches].
The president expressed his desire that this discussion process would bring forth positive results. I had the opportunity to tell the president about everything that happened there. Unfortunately many false and tendentious commentaries appeared in the mass media which might give the president and society a distorted perception of what happened in Zurich. I am glad that I had the opportunity to explain to Mr. Kuchma about what happened there, about the position of the Moscow Patriarchate.” Commenting on the results of his meeting with the president, Metropolitan Kiril explained: “I felt that there was understanding and interest. I consider that the time is coming when Orthodox can attempt to end the separation [between Churches] according to canonical principles.”
www.ntv.ru and www.strana.ru.