The presidential administration has reacted to the refusal of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate (UOC MP) to meet President Petro Poroshenko in the Ukrainian House.
According to the president's press service, Poroshenko invited UOC MP archbishops to meet several weeks ago.
"The president invited the UOC MP leaders to dialogue so that they could receive firsthand information about his talks with the Ecumenical Patriarch, on the agreement between Ukraine and the Constantinople Patriarchate and its Ecumenical Seat preparedness to assist in holding the unification assembly," the press service said.
"But those who do not want results seek reasons for refusal. The same way a large share of UOC MP archbishops started looking for excuses how not to attend the meeting: as if they did not like the venue," the statement reads.
The presidential administration warned that ultimatums would not disrupt the creation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church because this process is supported by the absolute majority of Ukrainians. "Going against the will of its own people is an obvious road to nowhere," it said.
President Poroshenko is ready to meet UOC MP archbishops in the Ukrainian House on a different day.