Ukraine Hesitating on UOC Ban Amid Fears of Fallout with Trump Team?
Some officials in Kyiv have concerns that religious freedom violations may lead to political backlash from Washington
Kyiv—Ukrainian officials are reportedly reconsidering the speed of their push to ban the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), wary of jeopardizing future relations with U.S. political leaders, particularly those aligned with President Donald Trump. According to Ukrainian media outlet Strana.ua, the government is increasingly sensitive to how religious freedom issues might be perceived by Trump’s team.
The report suggests that with each church transferred from the UOC to the state-sponsored Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), the risk of alienating American conservatives—who strongly emphasize religious liberty—increases. Such actions will complicate diplomatic ties and affect U.S. military support to Ukraine.
“Almost every attempt to reassign a UOC parish to the OCU leads to protests and sometimes violent clashes,” said a source cited by Strana.ua. “If these seizures escalate, it could spark large-scale unrest. Members of Trump’s circle are ready to use this as a reason to challenge continued support for Kyiv. That’s why some argue it’s better to hold off for now. After all, the UOC isn’t seen as a direct threat to Ukraine’s security.”
Nonetheless, pressure is mounting from other factions within the Ukrainian political sphere to act quickly—particularly with the approach of late May, when legislative momentum behind anti-UOC efforts come into full effect. While Kyiv hesitates, local authorities continue to wage a violent campaign against the Church in the west of the country.
Political analyst Konstantin Bondarenko also weighed in, warning that full enforcement of Law No. 3894, which seeks to outlaw the UOC, could provoke a strong negative reaction from Washington—especially among those who view the measure as a violation of religious rights.
