On 7-9 October 2018, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij, on the invitation of the Atlantic Council, British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Royal United Services Institute (“RUSI”), fulfilled a working visit to London and Acton, Great Britain, where he addressed the Security Conference “Ukraine’s Security and its Importance for the UK”, participated in the action “Light a Candle of Remembrance” and other initiatives in conjunction with Ukrainian Week in London, and met with representatives of governing authorities, civil society and the Ukrainian community in Great Britain.
Eugene Czolij began his visit to Great Britain by attending Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile celebrated by Fr. Irineu Kraiczyi. The UWC President then addressed the Ukrainian community, sharing information about the current situation in Ukraine and calling upon Ukrainians in Great Britain for continued close cooperation with the UWC in support of Ukraine.
On 8 October 2018, the UWC President spoke during the session titled “Lawfare: Ukrainian Claims Against Russia in International Courts”, that took place in the framework of the conference. In his presentation, Eugene Czolij focused attention on how Ukrainians can use the court system, including the European Court of Human Rights, and arbitrations to obtain compensation from the Russian Federation for physical and property damages as a result of Kremlin’s aggression in Ukraine. Eugene Czolij also emphasized the importance of establishing an international commission that would contribute to the preparation of such legal cases and source financing in global capital markets for administering these cases and the lawyers to plead them.
Video of the session “Lawfare: Ukrainian Claims Against Russia in International Courts” can be viewed HERE (the presentations of the UWC President begin at 0:57:11 and 1:32:15).
Participating in the conference, which raised strategic geopolitical challenges and cooperation between Ukraine and Great Britain, were high-ranking officials from Great Britain and Ukraine, and representatives of civil society and mass media. The keynote speaker was Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for European and Euro-Atlantic integration Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze.
On 9 October 2018, the UWC President took part in a business forum held in the framework of Ukrainian Week in London, where First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine, Stepan Kubiv delivered a presentation on investing in Ukraine.
On this day, on the invitation of the Chairman of the British-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce Bate Toms, the UWC President attended a reception in honour of the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine. There Eugene Czolij delivered an address during which he presented the new image of Ukraine and called upon the guests to continue taking interest and invest in Ukraine.
In a meeting with Stephen McCormick, Member of the Ukraine Team, Eastern Europe and Central Asia Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, Eugene Czolij thanked Great Britain for its support of Ukraine in the defence of its territorial integrity and spoke about the breadth of the hybrid aggression against Ukraine on the part of the Russian Federation and the significant reforms in Ukraine, and also encouraged further contribution to the defence of peace and security in the world. Focusing attention on the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-33 in Ukraine, the UWC President called upon Great Britain to recognize it as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.
The UWC President also met with representatives of civil society in Great Britain, specifically with James Nixey, Head of the Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs; Orysia Lutsevych, Manager of the Ukraine Forum at the Russia and Eurasia Programme, Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs; Andrew Wilson, Professor of Ukrainian Studies at the School of Slavonic and East European Studies of the University College London, Senior Policy Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations; and Adam Hug, Director of the Foreign Policy Centre. During these meetings, Eugene Czolij presented the main priorities of the UWC, which today are tied to supporting Ukraine in overcoming Russian hybrid aggression and further development of Ukraine, and discussed the means for future cooperation with the UWC.
The issue of continued support for Ukraine the UWC President also discussed with Political Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in the United Kingdom Zach Harkenrider.
On this day, the UWC President participated in a roundtable at Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, on the topic of legal challenges against Russian Federation.
In addition, Eugene Czolij together with the First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine and Minister of Economic Development and Trade Stepan Kubiv, Ambassador of Ukraine in Great Britain Nataliya Halibarenko, President of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain Petro Rewko and representatives of the Ukrainian community, participated in the international action “Light a Candle of Remembrance” marking the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor of 1932-33 which was held in the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Transfiguration in Acton. The memorial service was celebrated by Fr. Mychailo Furyk and Fr. Mykola Matwijiwskyj.
More information on this event is available on the website of the Embassy of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
While in Great Britain the UWC President was accompanied by Member of the Board of Directors of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain Bohdan Terlecky.
“The Ukrainian World Congress acknowledges the significance of Ukrainian Week in London in strengthening relations between Ukraine and Great Britain and congratulates the organizers for a successful event,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
In the photo: E. Czolij addresses the session “Lawfare: Ukrainian Claims Against Russia in International Courts” From left: E. Czolij, E. Kiselyov, A. Aslund, J. Wilson, O. Zerkal and Y. Vitrenko
Latest news
#DefeatRussia
President Zelenskyy: Gratitude to every Ukrainian warrior and fallen hero who returns on their shield
#DefeatRussia
