* Threat to outlaw the Ukrainian Orthodox church will have dire ramifications for the country's E.U hopes.
* Pressure is mounting on western leaders to intervene and stop President Zelensky from banning the Ukrainian Orthodox church (UOC).
* Lawyers have written to Rishi Sunak urging him to convince Zelensky to suspend the intention.
Ukraine president Vlodomyr Zelensky has been warned that banning the country's oldest and most widely supported church historical institution would have dire consequences on his E.U membership and western world hopes. Zelensky intends to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox church due to its ties with the Russian Orthodox church which has summoned the international lawyers acting on behalf of the Holy Synod of the UOC to write to British Prime minister Rishi Sunak, U.S president Joe Biden and the President of the European commission Ursula von de Leyen to advise Zelensky to suspend his intentions.
The intervention comes after Ukrainian parliament appears to approve the passing of a legislation that would outlaw the church despite it being the biggest with twelve thousand parishes. Despite the UOC's historical ties with the ROC, the church claims to have severed ties with Moscow and supported Ukraine's war effort and criticised Putin's invasion of the country.
A vote by Rada in middle of January is expected to close down the church which has been Ukraine's biggest religious institution for years.
As of 2024, Ukraine decided to quit Christmas celebrations on 7th January and instead celebrated the day on 25th December with the rest of Europe following the Gregorian calendar though most Ukranians decided to keep up the Julian calender and celebrated the day on the usual 7th January. The banning of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church however poses a big threat to Ukraine's E.U membership bid with many question marks arising over the Ukraine's ability to uphold human rights and the rule of law.
