‘Ukraine comes first’: Ukrainian diaspora leader in Germany says in call for unified advocacy abroad

The Global Ukrainians’ Declaration of Unity is essential for ensuring that Ukrainians and Ukrainian organizations can speak to governments abroad with one voice and be heard at the political level. This was stated by Rostyslav Sukennyk, head of the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in Germany (AUOG).

“Horizontal structures are great — they are extremely effective, highly mobile, and very fast. Vertical structures serve a different purpose: they present and communicate our position to higher levels,” Sukennyk said.

The lack of a unified position, according to him, makes it difficult to represent Ukrainian interests internationally.

“No politician in any country, whether at a regional or national level, wants to listen to 150 organizations one after another, each trying to speak. They would all emphasize different points, and it would be chaotic,” he said.

Sukennyk called on Ukrainians worldwide and friends of Ukraine to join in signing the Global Ukrainians’ Declaration of Unity. He said that Ukrainian organizations should coordinate their positions and present them collectively, even if not everyone fully agrees.

“We need to do this together. We must come together once and show our position. Of course, not everyone will agree, and that’s okay,” he added.

He added that Ukrainians remain united in the face of existing challenges. 

“If you think philosophically, we are united because Ukraine comes first for all of us. We are united around Ukraine.”

True unity, he noted, lies in a shared understanding of the goal, not in forcing everyone to act in exactly the same way. “Unity can mean having the same objectives, even if the paths to achieve them are different. What matters is that we understand where we are going,” Sukennyk said.

The Declaration of Unity represents a shared position and a public commitment by Ukrainian civic organizations outside Ukraine to act together in support of Ukraine’s victory, reconstruction, and the strengthening of the global Ukrainian community. The document unifies the voice of the diaspora and demonstrates broad international support for Ukraine to global partners.

The declaration is open for signature by civic organizations, associations, unions, cultural and educational institutions, religious communities, initiative groups, and other entities founded by Ukrainians or people of Ukrainian descent.

Both UWC member organizations and partner organizations that share the declaration’s goals and work in support of Ukraine are eligible to sign.

The declaration can be signed via the following link.