Michael Sawkiw: Ukraine’s victory is a direct US interest

Most Americans view Ukraine’s victory as a direct interest of the United States and recognize the importance of supporting Ukraine for the country’s national interests, said Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) President Michael Sawkiw, Jr. in an interview with Ukrinform.

“The main goal of the Ukrainian community in the U.S. now is to continue engaging with both the Republican and Democratic parties for the benefit of U.S. national interests and to strengthen the strategic partnership with Ukraine,” he said.

To advance Ukraine’s interests, advocacy events are taking place, including the most recent Ukrainian Days to meet with lawmakers that took place in Washington on Feb. 24-25.

Ukrainian community representatives visited Capitol Hill, and met with congressmen, senators, aides, and advisors. Their goal was to “convey to them, as their voters, what we think about further aid to Ukraine – whether humanitarian, economic, or military,” Sawkiw said.

“Our other messages are also clear: more sanctions against Russia are essential; Russia should be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism; the persecution of Ukrainian Christians in occupied territories must stop; and war criminals should be brought to justice,” he said.

These priorities must be pursued not only because they align with the national interests of both Ukraine and the U.S. but also because they uphold fundamental moral principles.

Meanwhile, spreading the truth about Russia’s war against Ukraine is perhaps the most crucial aspect of defending Kyiv’s interests, said Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress, in an interview with Ukraine’s national 24-hour newscast. 

“Ukrainians must speak the truth and act actively in different spheres – media, cultural diplomacy, and sports diplomacy. It’s essential to consistently inform through various methods, using innovative approaches to communicate the truth about events in Ukraine,” Grod said, urging every Ukrainian to contribute daily to supporting Ukraine’s fight.