August 31, 2021 – Kyiv. As part of an August visit to Kyiv to mark the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine’s independence, the UWC leadership delegation led by President Paul Grod held meetings with Ukrainian high-ranking officials, parliamentarians, leaders of various political forces, representatives of civil society, business and diplomatic circles, heads of Ukrainian churches, as well as international partners.
UWC leadership discussed international support for Ukraine’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration, progress in key reform areas, improvement of the country’s business climate and investment attractiveness with Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna.
The peace processes and deoccupation of Crimea and Donbas, countering Russian aggression and disinformation, and strengthening international support for Ukraine were some of the key issues discussed with Oleksii Reznikov, Deputy Prime Minister for Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine.
UWC leadership spoke with Dmytro Kuleba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, about the strategic collaboration between Ukraine and Ukrainians abroad, multiple citizenship and issues persecution of Ukrainians in Russia. UWC delegation also discussed a pilot project of youth exchanges and internships for young diaspora Ukrainians.
The issue of multiple citizenship was also discussed in detail by the UWC leadership during meetings with Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Dmytro Razumkov as well as law enforcement and security authorities – Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Ivan Bakanov and Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov.
The current state of implementation of judicial and law enforcement reforms in Ukraine was discussed with the Head of the Supreme Court of Ukraine Valentyna Danishevska and
the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova.
UWC delegation addressed issues of Crimean platform as a mechanism for de-occupation of Crimea, human rights protection with Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people.
UWC leadership also met with key international partners, including G7 Ambassadors, to discuss Ukraine’s reform and European integration agenda.
UWC delegation also met with Anton Drobovych, Director of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory to discuss national memorials dedicated to the Holodomor, Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and Babyn Yar.
The meetings with the Head of the UGCC His Beatitude Sviatoslav and the Head of the OCU His Beatitude Epiphanius focused on strengthening the cooperation of Ukrainian communities with the network of Ukrainian churches around the world and the implementation of joint humanitarian projects.
This visit became another important milestone in strengthening the ties between Ukraine and the global Ukrainian community, as well as in consolidating the international coalition of support for Ukraine.
