On 25 September 2014 Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij addressed a banquet in New York City on the occasion of Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk’s meeting with the Ukrainian community in the United States.
About 800 guests attended the event organized by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America led by Tamara Gallo Olexy, including hierarchs of Ukrainian Churches, high-ranking officials from Ukraine, the United States and other countries.
In his address the Prime Minister of Ukraine stated, “In the Ukrainian national anthem is the line – ‘We will lay down our soul and body for our freedom.’ And we are paying a great price for our independence which is truly priceless – Ukrainians have lost their lives in the fight against Russian aggression. We are paying for our freedom, independence and European choice. And we will win this fight […] We believe, that we will be successful. We are counting on your support, on the boundless energy of the Ukrainian nation – the energy to win […].”
UWC President Eugene Czolij delivered the concluding remarks of the evening. He emphasized that today Ukraine is defending not only its territory from Russian imperialism, but European values as well. The UWC President called for the international community to take concrete and practical steps that can help Ukraine stop the occupation of its territory by Russian armed forces and terrorists, and to secure peace, security and stability in the world.
“The Ukrainian World Congress calls upon the entire Ukrainian diaspora to be even more active in supporting the defense of our spiritual homeland Ukraine,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
