The Vatican's negative reaction to the Ukrainian law banning the activities of religious organizations associated with Russia in Ukraine indicates the need to strengthen Ukraine's work in the global information space to defend a truthful position, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

"Influence. There is influence abroad, in Europe on various religious institutions... It is important not to lose touch with the Vatican, or with Italy, or with the information space of all of Europe and the United States," Zelenskyy said at a press conference during the Ukraine 2024. Independence forum on Tuesday in Kyiv, commenting on the Vatican's position and answering a question about whether international partners understand that this is not about the church as such, but about the zone of influence of Russia on the territory of Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said the entire team of the President of Ukraine had meetings in the Vatican at various levels.

"It is very difficult [to explain the position of the hostile influence of the Russian Orthodox Church]. This does not concern the Vatican, but in principle: as soon as you pause in information work, in the information struggle for the truthful space... everything is filled with information from Russia. They work like clockwork in this," the head of state said.

"Everywhere – from business to politics – there is religion. Therefore: only work every day. And today there is one statement [from the Vatican], and tomorrow, if you work, there may be another statement. The church works hard abroad," the president said.