UWC President: Ukraine’s support should start on streets and continue in government halls

Rallies in support of Ukraine should evolve into meaningful discussions in government offices, where critical decisions are made, said UWC President Paul Grod during his speech at UWC’s international online conference titled, “Anniversary of the Full-Scale War: Effective Advocacy for Ukraine.”

The event, held on Jan. 20, was organized in partnership with the International Center for Ukraine Victory and Communities Army of Ukraine.

“It’s crucial that our calls for support go beyond street protests and reach the offices of government officials and high-ranking leaders,” Grod said. “While raising public awareness about Ukraine’s needs is important, it’s equally essential to communicate this message to world leaders.”

The UWC President urged Ukrainian communities to invite key stakeholders to rallies, including representatives from other ethnic groups, the media, and politicians. 

“Ensure they have a platform at the rally, but continue the conversation in the government offices,” he said of following through during an advocacy campaign. 

Partly due to a lack of awareness about the atrocities committed by Russia, support for Ukraine is diminishing within the international community.

“We need a global campaign for the third anniversary of Russia’s large-scale war against Ukraine to inform the world. As the global Ukrainian community, we have a responsibility to spread the truth about Ukraine’s struggle,” Grod said.

He stressed that Ukrainians abroad must unite in their advocacy efforts and speak with concerted messages,  

Regarding the key messages as the war approaches its fourth year, Grod said that “Ukraine wants peace more than anyone, but it must be a just and sustainable peace. It’s vital that we convey this message to the world.” 

The discussion also featured UWC Vice President for Western Europe Volodymyr Kogutyak, Andriy Dobriansky, Director of Communications of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and other experts in the field of advocacy.

The full recording of the online conference is available via the provided link.

On Jan. 11, the Ukrainian World Congress launched a major advocacy campaign ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, titled “Stand with Ukraine.” The campaign aims to remind the world of the ongoing war’s third year and highlight the devastating impact of Russia’s invasion on Ukraine and the global community. It also calls on democratic governments to mobilize support for Ukraine, increase pressure on Russia to end the war, and restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

The global campaign is supported by the International Center for Ukraine Victory and Communities Army of Ukraine. 

You can view the campaign materials through this link.