On Monday, June 26, leaders of Ukrainian communities in South America held a working meeting with the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Brazil, Andrii Melnyk. Inna Ohnivets, Head of the Department for Ukrainians Abroad of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also attended the meeting.
UWC Regional Vice President for South America, Jorge Danylyszyn (Argentina), leader of the Ukrainian community in Brazil, Vitório Sorotiuk, Director of the UWC Mission to Ukraine, Serhiy Kasyanchuk and UWC Political Adviser Tymish Martynenko represented the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC). UWC Regional Vice President for Western Europe, Pavlo Sadokha (Portugal), also joined the meeting.
During the conversation, the participants discussed the situation of Ukrainian communities in South America and Ukraine’s current efforts to strengthen its position in Latin America, South America, and the Caribbean.
“Unfortunately, Ukraine has been virtually absent from the region for a long time and has not worked systematically here. Our goal is to give a fundamentally new quality to our relations with the continent so that the Ukrainian voice in South America can be heard loud and clear,” said Deputy Foreign Minister and newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to Brazil Andrii Melnyk.
The meeting also focused on Russia’s activities in South America. Ukrainian community leaders emphasized the importance and necessity of establishing constant communication with the region in local languages – this is the first step that will help strengthen Ukraine’s information presence.
“Our region is not easy both politically and culturally. Russia’s considerable efforts to spread its propaganda and disinformation here are also evident. We welcome Ukraine’s intentions to strengthen its presence and initiate a new quality of dialogue with the countries of South America,” stated UWC Regional Vice President for South America Jorge Danylyszyn.
Finally, Ukrainian community leaders expressed their readiness to support Ambassador Melnyk in his new diplomatic mission actively and the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The parties also coordinated the next joint steps, including intensifying the collaborative dialogue with Ukrainian community leaders in South America and developing a systematic action plan.
“We welcome the appointment of Mr. Andrii Melnyk as the new Ambassador of Ukraine to Brazil and are ready to provide him with all possible support. The Ukrainian community in Brazil has been consistently defending Ukrainian interests at all levels. We are ready to strengthen this work in cooperation with Ukraine,” said Vitório Sorotiuk, President of the Ukrainian Brazilian Central Representation.
