Click below to download the
September 2021 UCCA Bulletin:
In Ukrainian
In English

Click below to download the
August 2021 UCCA Bulletin:
In Ukrainian
In English

While on a working visit in New York City to attend the 76th United Nations General Assembly, Ukraine’s Head of State, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, took time to meet with organizational leaders of the Ukrainian American community.
 
Warmly addressing those in attendance at the Ukrainian Institute of America, President Zelenskyy opened his remarks by stating, "I think you are our best ambassadors… You are defending our state, our sovereignty and territorial integrity abroad."​*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* 
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*|END:IF|* *|IF:ARCHIVE_PAGE|*Stressing that the Ukrainian American community is very active, Zelenskyy suggested that dual citizenship for Ukrainians living abroad may be granted but underscored that this issue must be carefully considered given that it is impossible to grant such status to people who live in unfriendly states.
 
In noting that this year Ukraine is celebrating its 30th anniversary of renewed Independence, President Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of restoring respect for Ukraine and Ukrainian history, but also stressed the importance of restoring peace.

"This requires the efforts and pressure of all foreign representatives: embassies, leaders of different states, church leaders - all those who feel that they can do something to restore peace. That is why each of you must do everything possible to restore peace in our country," Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
 
Following his remarks, President Zelenskyy bestowed state awards to several members of the Ukrainian American community, for their personal contributions in supporting Ukraine and the Ukrainian American community including executive director of Winner Group Ukraine and philanthropist John Hynansky; UCCA Executive Board Member and former President of United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, Dr. Larissa Kyj; National Commander of the Ukrainian American Veterans, Ihor Rudko; and President of Revived Soldiers Ukraine, Iryna Vashchuk Discipio. President Zelenskyy also bestowed the title of ‘Honored Artist of Ukraine’ to Julian Kytasty, composer, conductor, Bandura player.
 
Following the bestowing of awards, UCCA President Andriy Futey took to the podium to thank the president for his candidness. Mr. Futey assured Ukraine that the united Ukrainian American community is working hard to strengthen US-Ukraine relations, stating, “Gathered today are representatives of our national and community organizations and churches.  These are individuals who consistently dedicate a lot of work and effort, not only for our community here in the United States but also with all of their effort and hard work for the benefit of their homeland Ukraine. We consistently represent the interests of the diaspora. We tirelessly work to mobilize Ukrainian public opinion in the United States to strengthen our spiritual and cultural ties and to advance the economic prosperity for our community and Ukraine.” In closing, Mr. Futey underscored that UCCA continues to advocate for the implementation of Ukraine's strategic course towards NATO and EU membership, while working to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity, as well as to halt the Nord Stream 2 project.

The evening concluded with brief remarks by the President of the Ukrainian Institute of America, Kathy Nalywajko, who thanked all those in attendance and wished President Zelenskyy godspeed in his work to secure Ukraine’s sovereignty and economic prosperity.​*|END:IF|*
 

While the rest of the world has focused its attention on the United Nations this week, supporters of Democracy and Rule of Law remained hard at work in our nation’s capital. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), which represents some 30 national associations of Ukrainian Americans, and the interests of nearly 2 million Americans of Ukrainian descent, applauds the continued efforts of those in Congress to thwart the menace of Russian authoritarianism.*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|* 

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*|END:IF|* *|IF:ARCHIVE_PAGE|*Earlier this week, Members of Congress included several critical amendments designed to pressure the Russian Federation in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), including a motion authorizing new mandatory sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project; an amendment to prohibit Americans from purchasing Russian sovereign debt; an amendment calling for sanctions against 35 Russian officials, kleptocrats and human rights abusers under the Global Magnitsky Act within six months; and definitive language in the legislation which makes clear that the U.S. “remains a steadfast partner of Ukraine and it is in the United States national security interest [to] assist the Government of Ukraine in countering Russian military aggression.”

Meanwhile, in the U.S. Senate, a bipartisan resolution has “called upon the United States Government and its international allies and partners to increase sanctions pressure against the Russian Federation until the Russian Federation upholds its international obligations to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

Such Congressional pressure, however, would better serve as an example for the rest of the world if the United States were to finally appoint an Ambassador to Ukraine. For over 2 years, the United States has had a mission in Ukraine but no ambassador. To that end, UCCA has publicly advocated for President Biden and the U.S. Senate to come to an agreement on this diplomatic posting before the end of the year. “The nomination and approval of a qualified candidate to serve as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine would be a powerful signal of American support for Ukraine and its people,” stated UCCA President Andriy Futey.

Since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2014, UCCA has advocated for decisive action from the United States and our allies, warning that anything less would merely embolden Russia and would undermine the very foundation of regional and global peace and security. In line with such advocacy, Members of Congress and the U.S. Senate on the U.S. Helsinki Commission recently issued statements “blasting so-called election results in Russia,” following the sham Russian State Duma elections on September 17 – 19, 2021. The Russian Federation once again violated the principles of international law this year by illegally staging ballot boxes on the territory of the militarily occupied Crimean peninsula, and ferrying residents of Eastern Ukraine to vote over the border in southern Russia with a fleet of more than 800 motor coaches and a dozen special rail services.

"Isn't [holding elections on occupied Ukrainian territory] evidence of an international crime? Isn't it proof of impunity and disrespect for international law?" asked the President of Ukraine when he addressed the United Nations General Assembly. In response, the U.S. State Department announced that the United States would “not recognize holding elections for the Russian Duma on sovereign Ukrainian territory,” further describing the conditions under which voting took place in Russia “not conducive to free and fair proceedings.”

UCCA supports the challenge laid out by Ukraine’s President at the United Nations, when he suggested that the United Nations needed to "wake up" and tackle the world's most pressing problems. Only through continued international pressure, including a robust diplomatic presence in Kyiv by allies such as the United States, will Moscow be persuaded to cease violating international law, and remove itself from all international recognized Ukrainian territory.

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The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) is a non-profit, non-partisan community-based organization that has represented the interests of Ukrainians in the United States since 1940.