TORONTO – In mid-September, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij traveled on working visits to Washington, where he met with high-ranking government officials and addressed a reception on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the independence of Ukraine, and to New York, where he addressed a strategic session on Ukraine of the Atlantic Council, attended the Atlantic Council’s Global Citizen Awards dinner and discussed current Ukrainian issues during meetings with high-ranking officials at the United Nations.
During his meetings with officials in Washington on September 12, the UWC president called for the U.S. to continue demonstrating strong support for Ukraine’s territorial integrity by supplying military assistance to Ukraine and increasing sanctions against the Russian Federation so as to ensure that Ukraine overcomes Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. He had meetings at the Department of State and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
In addition, Mr. Czolij raised the importance of providing Ukraine with a Marshall Plan-type program to enable it to deal with the devastation resulting from Russian aggression and continue with much-needed reforms. He also discussed a U.N. peacekeeping mission to eastern Ukraine and an OSCE monitoring mission in Crimea.
The UWC president also met with the Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze and Ambassador to the U.S. Valeriy Chaly to discuss recent developments in Ukraine, the continued European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine and the upcoming UWC conferences in New York and Brussels.
Mr. Czolij then delivered an address at a reception at the United States Institute of Peace, in which he highlighted Ukraine’s successes over the last 26 years, including the European Union-Ukraine Association Agreement that came into force on September 1 and the visa-free regime for Ukrainian citizens into the Schengen area as of June 11.
He also acknowledged the strong signal sent by the international community of its aversion to Russian aggression by the marching of the U.S., Canadian, Australian and European countries’ armed forces alongside Ukrainian armed forces during the parade in Kyiv on Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Ambassador Chaly highlighted the 50th anniversary of the UWC and thanked the UWC and its member organizations, including the Ukrainian American community, for their long-standing strong support of Ukraine.
During his meetings the UWC president was accompanied by Michael Sawkiw, executive vice-president of UCCA, a UWC member organization.
Among the other leaders he met were: Lepik Lauri, ambassador of Estonia to the United States; Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) and Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.)
In New York City on September 20, Mr. Czolij addressed a strategic session of the Atlantic Council, stressing the critical situation in eastern Ukraine where, as a result of Russian aggression, loss of life continues. He underlined the importance of the international community assistance to Ukraine in the defense of its territorial integrity and stopping the Western advance of the Russian aggressor. He also noted the importance of further countering Russian disinformation, which attempts to portray Ukraine as a failed state.
The UWC is working with the Atlantic Council, a well-known think tank, in the implementation of its “Ukraine in Europe Іnitiative,” whose goal is to secure international support for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. This initiative also supports reforms in Ukraine and its Euro-Atlantic integration, and countering Russian disinformation.
A series of presentations dealing with the current situation in Ukraine, U.S. policy on Ukraine, security and defense issues, and sanctions against the Russian Federation were made and discussed during the strategic session by Executive Vice-President of the Atlantic Council Damon Wilson; U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations from the U.S. Department of State Ambassador Kurt Volker; Senior Fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs Ambassador Paula Dobriansky; Senior Fellow of the Atlantic Council Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Adrian Karatnycky; former NATO Deputy Secretary General Ambassador Alexander Vershbow; Gen. Wesley Clark; and Distinguished Fellow, Europe and Eurasia, at the Atlantic Council Ambassador Daniel Fried.
The UWC president also attended the Global Citizen Awards dinner hosted by the Atlantic Council during which the honor was bestowed upon Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea, and world-renowned pianist, educator and philanthropist Lang Lang.
Joining the Mr. Czolij at the Atlantic Council initiatives were UWC Vice-President and President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) Paul Grod; Chair of the UWC International Council on U.N. Affairs Tamara Olexy; UCC Advisory Council Chair James Temerty and his wife, Louise; and UCC Advisory Council Vice-Chair Ian Ihnatowycz.
On September 19 and 20 Mr. Czolij held separate meetings with the director, Europe Division, of the Department of Political Affairs at the United Nations, Ambassador Levent Bilman; Minister-Counselor of the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations Michael Bonser; Senior Advisor for Europe of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations Steven Kashkett; and Political Advisor of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations George Ward. Accompanying the UWC president was Ms. Olexy.