On February 16, 2023, the head of the State Ethnic Policy Viktor Yelensky, at a round table of representatives of the clergy and laity of the UOC and the OCU “Church, society, state: dialogue for the sake of unity and victory” on the territory of the National Reserve “Sofia Kievskaya” said that the state leadership is very interested in the unification of the UOC and the OCU took place and that in this association there were no winners and losers. The video of the round table was published on the Veche YouTube channel.

“The civil service and the leadership of the state are very interested in the fact that this association takes place. So that there are no winners and losers in this association. So that there are no victors and, so to speak, those who are being carried on a shield. Although we all know what moods exist, ”said Yelensky.

“In principle, of those fathers whom I heard, I agree with absolutely everything. Even with the fact that the president, although he is not an emperor, can invite the primates of the Churches to him and ask them to fulfill their Christian duty, ”said the head of the State Service of Ukraine for Ethnopolitics and Freedom of Conscience.

Yelensky added that reciprocal efforts are needed from both sides.