UWC at Crimea Platform: key takeaways

The Ukrainian World Congress joined the Second Parliamentary Summit of the Crimea Platform on October 23-24, 2023. The UWC President Paul Grod took part in the parliamentary part of the meeting and also presented the global Ukrainian diaspora during expert discussions.

Paul Grod attended a gala dinner for the participants with the participation of the President of the Czech Republic, Mr. Petr Pavel, on the first day of the summit. Dozens of politicians from Sweden, Austria, the Czech Republic and other International Crimea Platform member countries attended the event.

On the summit’s sidelines, the Ukrainian World Congress president also met with Ruslan Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The head of the Ukrainian parliament congratulated Paul Grod on his re-election to the post of president of the UWC.

In addition, the UWC President held meetings with Raymonde Gagné, Speaker of the Senate of the Parliament of Canada, Tamila Tasheva, Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine to the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Markéta Pekarová Adamová, Speaker of the Lower House of the Czech Parliament, as well as Roberts Zīle, Vice-President of the European Parliament.

The UWC President presented the global Ukrainian diaspora, supported the Joint Declaration of the summit on behalf of the UWC, and also presented a parliamentary checklist that parliamentarians could use as a “road map” to support Ukraine​​ at the plenary session of the representatives of the parliaments of the Crimea Platform countries.

Paul Grod was also an invited expert on the panel on restoring justice and guarantees of non-repetition of Russian aggression. The UWC President analyzed the destructive influence of Russia on various regions of the world through disinformation and propaganda. In particular, he discussed the techniques and approaches used by the Russians to spread misinformation and lies. Also, he talked about the work of Ukrainian communities to counter Russian propaganda and imperial narratives actively.

“As UWC, we have recently received several alarming signals from our member organizations in various parts of the world, but first of all from Europe, indicating a launch of a new powerful wave of Russian propaganda. The techniques and approaches used by the Russians and ways to counter them differ from one geographical region to another. Still, Moscow’s basic aim remains the same: create divisions among Ukrainians and our allies and weaken the trust in relations between Ukraine and countries of the Global South. Therefore, we must be attentive, proactive, bold, and united to counter the threats,” Paul Grod explained.

In general, the participants of the summit declared their intention to support an international investigation of war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine, to support an investigation by the International Criminal Court in Ukraine to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, and to work for the creation of an international tribunal on the crime of aggression. They also reaffirmed their commitment to the application and further strengthening of sanctions against Russia.

The Crimea Platform is a leading foreign policy instrument initiated by Kyiv for the consolidation of international efforts aimed at the de-occupation and restoration of the territorial integrity of Ukraine within internationally recognized borders, increasing the effectiveness of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, responding to growing security threats, increasing international pressure on the Kremlin, and preventing further violations human rights and protection of victims of the occupation regime. The main goal of the Crimea Platform is to work out ways to liberate Crimea and return it to Ukraine peacefully. The summit was held for the first time in Kyiv on August 23, 2021.