Petro Poroshenko

The newly elected head of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church has officially assumed office in the capital of Kiev, a month after the church severed its centuries-long ties with the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople has signed a decree of independence for the Orthodox Church of Ukraine.

Ukraine announced martial law last month after Russian coast guards fired at and seized three Ukrainian ships and their crews, Beta reported on Wednesday, citing AP, and added that 24 seamen still remain in Russian custody.

Ukraine's president Petro Poroshenko meets with Patriarch Bartholomew at the Fener Greek Patriarchate in Istanbul on Nov. 3.

Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomeos has rejected allegations by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week that his main motive for granting independence to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine from the Russian Church is to "start profiting from it."

This came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier that Ukraine is allegedly preparing a "provocation."

Lavrov accused Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of preparing a provocation for the end of December, on the border with Russia.

Ukraine chose the head of a new national Orthodox church on Dec. 15, marking an historic split from Russia which its leaders see as vital to the country's security and independence.

Russia is calling on the UN, the OSCE, the Council of Europe and other international organizations to pay attention to violations of human rights in that country, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday there is "no military solution" to the Ukraine conflict after President Petro Poroshenko asked for NATO naval support in his country's standoff with Russia.

And it should be conveyed by Trump.

Namely, Petro Poroshenko wants the US president to personally convey the message to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Buenos Aires. This message reads: "Please leave Ukraine, Mr. Putin."

That's what Poroshenko himself said in an interview with NBC News, which was published two days after the Kerch incident.