You're reading: Putin: Patriarch Bartholomew wants to subdue Ukrainian church, profit from it

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople’s attitude toward the church schism in Ukraine is connected to his desire to subdue the Ukrainian church and then start profiting from it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

“Look how it is becoming dependent on Turkey, the Turkish patriarchate. It involves appointments, and a lot of other things, and money, most importantly. I think Bartholomew’s main incentive and motive is to subdue this territory and then start profiting from it,” Putin said at his annual press conference in Moscow on Thursday.

“I think this is the main incentive, but there are certainly hints from Washington as well,” he said.