Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman met with Patriarch Bartholomew I in Istanbul.

This is stated in the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers, following the meeting of Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groisman with Patriarch Bartholomew I during his visit to Turkey in Istanbul.

The head of government highly appreciated the leading role of the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the person of Bartholomew I in the support of the unity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy.

"We attach great importance to our cooperation. Ukrainians tend to the same Church and your role is extremely important," – said Groisman and expressed deep respect to the Patriarch for his support for the unity of Ukrainian Orthodoxy.

"We pray that the Ukrainian people were United in one Church. The mother Church of Constantinople will help you to such a United Church," said Bartholomew I.

The Verkhovna Rada appealed to Patriarch Bartholomew to give the canonical (i.e. internationally recognized) independence of the Ukrainian Church from the Russian Orthodox Church.

In his address to the Ukrainian Parliament called on Bartholomew to abolish the act of 1686, according to which "in violation of the canons of" Kyiv metropolis was joined to the Moscow Patriarchate.