UWC leadership marks Ukraine’s Independence Day with state officials

A top delegation of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) joined Ukraine’s leading officials in celebrating Independence Day on Aug. 24.

It was led by UWC President Paul Grod. 

Also in attendance were: UWC Vice Presidents Andriy Futey, Zenon Potoczny, and Mykola-Myroslav Petretskyi; UWC Board Members Vitorio Sorotiuk and Zenon Kowal; President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) Michael Sawkiw; and President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) Alexandra Chyczij.

Also joining were Lyuba Lyubchyk, Chair of the UWC International Educational Coordinating Council; Yuriy Klyufas, chair of the Ukrainian National Association; Andrew Potichnyj, director of the UWC Unite with Ukraine initiative; and Andriy Shevchenko, head of the UWC mission to Ukraine.

The official celebrations, with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, took place in the heart of Kyiv. 

Foreign dignitaries were also in attendance, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Pastor Mark Burns, U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg, the defense ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Romania, Lithuania, Latvia, and Canada, as well as the UK Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.

During the ceremony, Zelenskyy presented state awards to Ukrainian defenders, medical workers, cultural figures, and international partners.

The UWC warmly congratulates Michael Sawkiw, UCCA’s president, on receiving the President of Ukraine’s Cross of Ivan Mazepa. We thank him for his outstanding work in amplifying Ukraine’s voice in the United States.

The UWC delegation met with Prime Minister Carney, who announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth more than $1 billion.

They also held meetings with Kellogg and Pastor Burns.

The delegation participated in the National Prayer Breakfast, joining Ukrainian government officials, clergy, and international partners in prayers for peace, victory, and the renewal of Ukraine, on Aug. 25.