Its majority of Ukrainians who call him Patriarch of Kyiv and all Rus. You cant say that he is no Priest , how strange it is that he was a priest when he was Metropolitan of Kyiv Under Moscow Patriarchate and now you don't consider him one. Cant you see real politics from your part ?
Its important for Russian Federation because of Sevastopol port from where Russian Federation can access Mediterranean sea but that place is even important for Ukraine.
Russia working on recognition of Donbas diplomas : UNIAN news
26.12.2014 | 14:47
The Russian Ministry of Education and Science intends to recognize diplomas and certificates of graduate schools and universities in the Donbas, Russian Minister of Education and Science Dmitriy Livanov said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Izvestia on Thursday, according to Ukrainian television’s 112 Ukraine channel.
"We think that the south-eastern regions of Ukraine are inhabited by people who are closely associated with Russia by cultural and blood ties, and it is very important for them to have full rights and opportunities in education," he said.
"For today, these people are in a very difficult situation, because the buildings of educational establishments have been partially destroyed," Livanov said.
"According to this, we believe that our task along with the colleagues in the government is to do everything possible so that the children and young people who live in this area receive a full education, and have the opportunity to continue it. In particular, it is important that the school graduates could continue their education in Russian universities," he said.
"At the moment, the ministry collects data analysis on the number of schoolchildren, teachers, professors, students, on the condition of the educational establishments and on their need for educational materials," Livanov added.
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One Ukrainian soldier killed, one injured in conflict zone in last day : UNIAN news
26.12.2014
One Ukrainian soldier has been killed and another one injured in the Donbas conflict zone in the last 24 hours, National Security and Defense Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.
BBC News - Ukraine and rebels trade prisoners in Donetsk
26 December 2014
Three soldiers freed in rebel-held Luhansk were collected by their mothers
Pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine have exchanged scores of prisoners with the Ukrainian government near the rebel-held city of Donetsk.
The rebels were due to swap 150 soldiers for 225 people held by the government.
It appears that most of the captives were exchanged, with the remaining releases due to take place on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Ukraine froze vital bus and rail links with Crimea, its southern territory annexed by Russia in March.
"They only just told us that this would happen," freed Ukrainian soldier Artyom Syurik was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
"I am looking forward to seeing my parents and wife. They do not know I am coming."
Freed rebel fighter Denis Balbukov said: "I want to eat fried potatoes and talk to my relatives."
But he added: "I will go back to fighting. It was all right once we were moved to the detention centre, but to begin with, they really tormented and roughed us up."
The peace talks in Minsk broke up on Wednesday with no indication of when they would be resumed.
However, it is believed the two sides remain in contact via Skype.
In another development, three Ukrainian soldiers held by rebels in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine were released to their families on Friday.
No conditions were set for their release, according to the European Photopress Agency, which released pictures.
