A religious war on the horizon?

Discussion about Russia-Ukraine relations after the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. 

Guests

Kadri Liik, Senior Policy Fellow, ECFR 

Momchil Metodiev, Historian

Ilja Skrylnikow, Desk Officer – Ukraine Desk, German Federal Foreign Office 

Chaired by

Gustav Gressel, Senior Policy Fellow, ECFR 
 

RSVP to [email protected] by May 20, 2019.

ECFR is delighted to invite you to a Black Coffee Morning to discuss the significance of the independence of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and its effects on Russian-Ukrainian relations.

On 6 January, the biggest rift in Christianity in centuries occurred when the Constantinople Patriarchate bestowed self-governing status on the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. The tensions over the split of the 300 million-strong global Orthodox church are seen as a proxy for political tensions between the two countries. But so far, the Kremlin has refrained from taking any concrete action, despite its threats of breaking off relations with Constantinople.

With a new president in Ukraine, will Russia begin to assert pressure? If political relations remain deadlocked, will Moscow perhaps escalate the situation?

We are looking forward to your participation and a lively debate!