On March 19, 2020, UWC President Paul Grod held a teleconference with Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Paul Grod was joined on this call by UWC First Vice President Stefan Romaniw, Vice President Andriy Futey, UWC Executive Director Mariia Kupriianova, and Serhiy Kasyanchuk, Director of UWC Mission to Ukraine.
As the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora, the UWC offered help and support to the essential efforts of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, including in disseminating official information to Ukrainians abroad and providing humanitarian support on the international level. UWC Leadership presented the full scope of issues facing global Ukrainian community today due to the restrictive measures imposed in response to the pandemic. The issues presented included extending the term of stay in Ukraine, reimbursing or “freezing” visa payments due to cancellations of travel to Ukraine, etc.
The discussion also focused on the current political issues, in particular, the decision of the Trilateral Contact Group to establish the Consultation Council. UWC Leadership voiced concerns of the global Ukrainian community about the threats of implementing this decision.
The parties discussed the next practical steps within the framework of the key UWC and Ministry’s priorities: joining efforts to counter Russian aggression, advocating for maintaining sanctions regime against Russia and assisting to develop the powerful state of Ukraine through public diplomacy. The Minister emphasized the important role of the global Ukrainian community in raising awareness of continued Russian aggression in the East of Ukraine among the international community.
“We are grateful for the open dialogue and continued partnership with Ukraine’s MFA in our joint priorities of countering Russian aggression, strengthening the state of Ukraine and developing global Ukrainian communities. In times of extraordinary global threats, we act as a united global Ukrainian nation, coming together to help. MFA Ukraine and UWC will continue to implement efficient ways of working together in our new reality”, – stated Paul Grod, UWC President.
