During his recent official visit to Russia, the newly installed Ukrainian President Viktor Yushenko met Patriarch Alexis II in Moscow on Monday, 24 January. Addressing his guest, the Patriarch said: “We respect the choice of the Ukrainian people. Many members of the Orthodox Church voted for you”. Alexis II expressed a particular hope to the President. “We hope that during your term of office as President the religious situation may be normalized”. The Patriarch was referring to the schism that has taken place within Ukrainian Orthodoxy and has also caused divisions in the population. “Let us hope that the Ukrainian people, which has been divided in the course of recent events, may re-find its unity”. Yushenko reaffirmed his absolute neutrality to the country’s religious questions and declared that “religious tolerance will be the foundation” of his policy.
