Medvedev: Russia will build its relations with Ukraine with due account of Patriarch’s Opinion

Gorky, August 6, Interfax – On Thursday, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia informed President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev concerning the results of his pastoral trip to Ukraine.

President Medvedev expressed his support of Patriarch’s commitment to maintain the unity of people of two countries. He also said that after listening to Patriarch’s account of the trip he would make several decisions.

“We shall discuss your visit,” President Medvedev said opening the meeting. “I am interested to know about your impressions of visiting Ukraine,” President noted.

“Currently, our relations have been too complicated, and we are not at all happy about this,” President Medvedev added. “Thus, I am interested to know your estimate to be able to further build our relations.”

Patriarch said that his visit to Ukraine had become perhaps “one of the most remarkable impressions of his pastoral life.” “I met dozens, and may be hundreds thousands of people who expressed their love, sincerity and inside dynamism in welcoming the arrival of their Patriarch,” Patriarch Kirill said.

He highlighted that during his trip he felt that “the great spiritual unity created by our peoples over millenniums has become our basic value which is impossible to shatter by momentary politics.”

“Being beyond political struggle, the Church is committed to help people to make the world a better place, in particular relying on such basic values,” Patriarch said. “This idea makes anything else irrelevant, including any political disputes which become inadequate and, therefore, capable of being overcome,” Patriarch believes.

“Based on that unity, respecting sovereignty and accepting the existing political realities, we should apply our best efforts to make people feel close and united, and be the daughters and sons of the Russian Orthodox Church regardless of their residency in different states,” Patriarch said.

Medvedev shared this viewpoint. “Despite the separation, we should maintain our brotherly feelings, regardless of persons holding power and such momentary and often opportunistic politics pursued by some leaders,” he said.

Source: