Ukrainian foreign minister calls on Ukrainian Diaspora to assist in creating the One Local Orthodox Church

Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin called on the Ukrainian Diaspora to help create the one local church in Ukraine.

He made this appeal to representatives of Ukrainian organizations in Canada at a meeting in Toronto, according to Ukrinform.

It is imperative to return the faithful into the one local Church, and this requires your help. We have been working on this with the Ecumenical Patriarch for a long time. Of course, the influence on him both from the United States and Canada is significant. Although we all say that politics is politics, and believers are believers, but, honestly, the Russian Church is being used in Ukraine for political manipulation,” Klimkin said.

He added that the only local Church in Ukraine should appear "in the time of my generation."

The head of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also said that he was flying from Canada immediately to the Vatican to meet with the Secretary of State. “The role of the Vatican in this matter is very important, they can be both helpful or reluctant. I really want them contribute to this matter,” said the minister.

Klimkin also drew attention to the danger of Moscow’s obstruction of the process of creating the one local Church in Ukraine. “Let's talk with everyone, but, of course, Russia will do everything to prevent it. However, if we succeed, for everyone it will be a very special emotional story,” he said.

Pavlo Klimkin was on a visit in Canada on April 21-22, where he took part in the familiarization session of the summit of foreign ministers of the G-7 and held a series of bilateral meetings.