On 8-9 March 2017 Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij was in Washington, U.S.A., on a two-day visit to participate in Ukrainian Days organized by UWC member organization, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), and to urge continued support for Ukraine from Senators, Members of the House of Representatives and officials from the Department of State of the U.S.A.
Together with UCCA President Andrew Futey, UCCA Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS) Director Michael Sawkiw and numerous Ukrainian American activists from various states, Eugene Czolij called upon the U.S. Congress to further strengthen support for Ukraine by adopting draft bills H.R.830 STAND for Ukraine Act, H.R.463 Crimea Annexation Non-recognition Act, H.R.1059 Russia Sanctions Review Act of 2017 and H. Res.88 Calling on the Russian Federation to stop the violence in Ukraine, and for other purposes. In addition, the UWC President supported the appeal made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin during his testimony on 7 March 2017 before the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, namely for the United States to: provide defensive weapons and continue military and technical support to enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend its territory against Russian aggression; develop with Ukraine a long-term arrangement, closer partnership and cooperation in defense and security; relaunch negotiations of the signatories of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances; and strengthen sanctions against the Russian Federation until it withdraws from Ukrainian territory.
During an evening reception at the Capitol Visitors Center on 8 March 2017 Eugene Czolij delivered an address during which he thanked the U.S.A. for its significant support for Ukraine. He also underlined the importance of the work of Ukrainian American activists who raise awareness that as Ukraine defends its territorial integrity it also stops the imperialist plans of the Russian Federation to move further westward, and counter the powerful Russian disinformation campaign aimed at discrediting Ukraine as a failed state. In addition, the UWC President paid homage to three individuals who were honored by UCCA, calling upon them to continue their resolute support for Ukraine. The honorees were U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), recipient of the UCCA Shevchenko Freedom Award; and U.S. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and U.S. Congressman Gerry Connolly (D‑VA), recipients of the Friends of UNIS Award.
Eugene Czolij also attended a working meeting at the Embassy of Ukraine with Ambassador of Ukraine in the U.S.A. Valeriy Chaly and all of the activists who participated in Ukrainian Days to discuss further support for Ukraine from the UWC and its member organization, UCCA.
The UWC President also joined Bishop John Bura of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Ambassador Valeriy Chaly, UNIS Director Michael Sawkiw and Ukrainian American activists in a wreath laying ceremony at the monument to Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko.
“The Ukrainian World Congress acknowledges the dedication of Ukrainian American activists during Ukrainian Days in Washington organized by UCCA and calls upon them to continue their important work in strengthening the support for Ukraine during these challenging times,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
In the photo from left: E. Czolij, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur and A. Futey
