UWC President meets with Australian officials

Ukrainian World Congress President Paul Grod held a series of meetings with Australian officials during his official visit from March 8 to 22. 

The meetings took place in two states – Victoria and New South Wales – and involved key figures from the Ukrainian community in Australia: Kateryna Argyrou, Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations (AFUO), and a UWC Board of Directors member; Nataliya Poshyvaylo-Towler, UWC Vice President for Southern and Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Türkiye, and Lebanon; His Excellency Vasyl Myroshnychenko, Ukrainian Ambassador; Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Fr. Simon Ckuj, Parochial Vicar of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish; Eugene Hawryszko, AUV President; and Chrestyna Kmetj, AFUO Board member.

In Victoria, Grod met with with Brad Battin MP, Leader of the Victorian State Opposition, Matthew Guy MP  and Mr Lee Tarlamis MP OAM MP, Co-Chairs of the Victorian Australia-Ukraine Friends of Ukraine Group, David Coleman – Member for Banks, Federal Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, as well as Jacinta Allan, Premier of Victoria. 

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The discussions focused on encouraging Australia to take a leadership role in the region and join the “coalition of the willing,” supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction through business partnerships, and advocating for the official recognition of the Holodomor as genocide at the state level in Australia. Premier Allan reaffirmed her unwavering support for Ukraine, and the talks explored opportunities for strengthening the partnership between Victoria and Ukraine.

In New South Wales, Grod and Coleman discussed the continuation of military aid to Ukraine, strengthening Australia’s sanctions against Russia, reallocating frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine’s defense and reconstruction, and countering Russia’s information warfare. 

The two also addressed the importance of the Australian Parliament officially recognizing the Holodomor as genocide.

Grod expressed his sincere gratitude to the Ukrainian community in Australia for their continued support during a meeting in Essendon.