Highlights from UWC President’s visit to Ukraine

From September 9 to 14, Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress, conducted a working visit to Ukraine. The visit aimed to support Ukrainian defenders, engage with the leadership of Ukraine’s Defense Forces, meet with recently appointed government officials, and collaborate with civil society organizations.

Government meetings

In early September, Ukraine experienced its largest Cabinet of Ministers reshuffle since the full-scale Russian invasion began. UWC President met with seven of the newly appointed ministers, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi, and Minister of Justice Olha Stefanishyna.

In a meeting with Minister Andrii Sybiha, the discussions centered around enhancing strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts aimed at securing Ukraine’s victory and a just peace. Additionally, the conversation included strategies for engaging with Ukrainian organizations abroad, inclusive of newly established ones.

Grod’s meeting with Mykola Tochytskyi centred around key topics included combating Russian disinformation and propaganda worldwide, as well as advocating for the recognition of the Holodomor as genocide against the Ukrainian people. The President of the Ukrainian World Congress highlighted the importance of cultural diplomacy, the preservation and revival of national memory, and information policy as crucial for the Ukrainian diaspora.

Paul Grod participated in the 20th Yalta European Strategy (YES) Annual Meeting. “Last year, the conference took place amid active warfare, but the situation was at an impasse. This year, with Ukraine’s operation in Russia’s Kursk Region, the mood has become more resolute, and there is a pressing need to support Ukraine as much as possible. We also learned that Ukraine has significantly enhanced its military-industrial capabilities and is ready to produce high-quality drones and other equipment. However, it needs funding. With this information, I am returning abroad to work with our partners and strengthen military support for the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” stated Paul Grod. Additionally, on the sidelines of YES, Grod met with Olha Stefanishyna.  

During the Crimea Platform Summit, Paul Grod held sideline meetings with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Grod expressed gratitude to the officials for their unwavering support of Ukraine and emphasized the importance of allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons on targets inside Russian territory. He also urged for continued solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their fight against Russian aggression. Read further on the meetings at the Crimea Platform Summit.

UWC President also held a friendly meeting with representatives from Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada factions. 

Assistance to Ukraine’s Defense Structures

During his official visit to Ukraine, UWC President visited areas near the frontline in Donetsk and Kharkiv regions, where he delivered aid to Ukrainian forces. Paul Grod visited Dobropillia, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk districts in the Donetsk region, as well as Izium and Kharkiv in the Kharkiv region, met with combat paramedics and delivered an ambulance as well as an additional 100 FPV drones. More about the visit.

Paul Grod also personally participated in the delivery of unmanned aerial vehicles purchased through the UWC initiative “Unite with Ukraine.” This includes nine ‘VALK-1 Galka’ unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UAVs) and nine VTOL UAVTEK ‘Babka’ UAV systems delivered to three units of Ukraine’s Defense Forces. More about the drone delivery.

Strategic planning of future projects between the UWC and the Territorial Defense Forces, specifically in the high tech unmanned aviation and drone systems sectors, was discussed during the meeting between the President of the Ukrainian World Congress, Paul Grod, Andrew Potichnyj, Director of the “Unite with Ukraine” initiative, and Major General Ihor Plahuta, Commander of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Upon returning from the areas near the front in eastern Ukraine, Paul Grod and Andrew Potichnyj met with Lieutenant General Oleksandr Pavliuk, Commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, to discuss the Ukrainian military’s immediate needs.

Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Main Directorate of Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR), hosted Paul Grod and Andrew Potichnyj. Budanov thanked the global Ukrainian community for their support. “This is a war of attrition. We must do everything to prevent the level of support for Ukraine from decreasing,” emphasized Ukraine’s intelligence chief. More about the meeting.

Collaboration with civil society organizations

At Veteran Hub, UWC President took part in a tour of the facility and engaged with Ukrainian experts focused on veteran adaptation and reintegration. Participants discussed the opportunities and challenges in improving the welfare of Ukrainian veterans, including new projects such as the “Mobile Office” program. More about the meeting.

As an honorary guest at the “United for Victory” Forum of Public Leaders in Kyiv, UWC President addressed global challenges facing Ukrainians. “War, decreasing international support for Ukraine, Russian disinformation, the assimilation of Ukrainian children, and the return of Ukrainians home are major challenges we face. Civil society plays a crucial role in overcoming these challenges, so we must remain united and work together,” said Paul Grod.

Paul Grod and Andrew Potichnyj also met with volunteer and founder of his namesake charitable foundation, Serhiy Prytula. “Special thanks for the work that the UWC is doing to draw attention to the war and Ukraine’s needs on all possible platforms. Also, thank you for the efforts made to maintain the unity of Ukrainian communities around the world,” Serhiy Prytula wrote on his Facebook page.

During the “Exploring Multiple Citizenship: Opportunities and Risks” discussion organized by the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), UWC President Paul Grod highlighted multiple citizenship as a strategic tool for re-engaging millions of Ukrainians abroad with their homeland. Paul Grod emphasized that this policy would prevent the assimilation of citizens living abroad and create new opportunities for them to participate in Ukraine’s civic and national activities, underscoring its significance as a security concern for Ukraine. More on the event.

Among the notable appearances by UWC President were a speech at Radio Free Europe’s 70th-anniversary celebration and a lecture at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.

UWC President also gave interviews to the leading Ukrainian journalists – the European Pravda media outlet and Vitaly Portnikov.