Zelensky Invites Tucker Carlson to Visit Ukraine Amid Religious Freedom Dispute

KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has challenged American journalist Tucker Carlson's criticism of religious persecution in Ukraine, arguing that Carlson cannot accurately assess the situation because he has never visited the country. Zelensky made the remarks in an interview with Tony Perkins, host of This Week on Capitol Hill, broadcast on October 31, 2026.

Perkins asked the president to respond to accusations from Carlson and others that Ukrainian authorities are persecuting Christians. Zelensky questioned how Carlson could discuss the treatment of religious believers without having visited Ukraine, adding that he was welcome to come and see the situation firsthand.

Zelensky maintained that religious communities in Ukraine enjoy considerable freedom, pointing to the country's Council of Churches and Religious Organizations, whose representatives he said meet with him regularly. He described discussions involving Christians, Jews, Catholics, and Muslims, saying that representatives of different faiths work together to resolve religious issues.

However, Zelensky did not address the exclusion of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) from the discussions he described, despite the fact that Carlson's criticism has primarily concerned the treatment of that Church. Nor did he directly respond to questions about the government's actions against UOC clergy and communities.

Perkins, who said he had met with members of Ukraine's religious council during a visit to the country, expressed his impression that religious freedom existed there. Zelensky agreed, asserting that religious matters were determined through the participation of thousands of people rather than a small group of officials.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Daniel backed Patr. Theophilos' initiative to mediate peace in Ukraine.