You're reading: Ukrainian president holds private meeting with Patriarch Kirill in Crimea

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia held a private meeting in Crimea on Tuesday, an informed source has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"The patriarch also congratulated [President] Viktor Yanukovych on his past birthday," the source added.

The president’s press secretary, Darya Chepak, said that the meeting was not officially scheduled.

"This meeting was not in the president’s schedule of public meetings," Chepak told Interfax-Ukraine on Tuesday.