The program of the last visit of the Ukrainian president to Turkey did not include a meeting between Zelensky and Patriarch Bartholomew. We have been asked to comment on this moment.
Among political scientists – friends of “Pravblog” – there are two versions, two views on what happened.
Firstly, it testifies to the artificiality of the project of establishing close cooperation between Kyiv and Phanar. After Biden’s call, the Ukrainian government no longer needs so much external lobbyists who would be able to help organize Zelensky’s contact with the head of the United States. Against this background, in the capital of Ukraine, they could consider that a meeting with Bartholomew is not so necessary, especially given the recent voyage to Phanar of a delegation of deputies together with one of the deputy heads of the President’s Office.
Secondly, the Erdogan factor could play. The Turkish leader is building his communication with Zelensky with an eye on Moscow. The latter has already sent clear signals to Ankara, in particular with the possibility of limiting tourist flow to Turkey. Given this, it is not in Erdogan’s interests to saturate Zelensky’s program on Turkish soil with another sensitive issue for the Russian side. Therefore, as our friends suggest, the “sultan” could well “block” Zelensky’s meeting with the head of the Phanar, bringing his wish to the last.
photo 24th Cannel