President Zelensky meets with Ukrainian community leaders in Calgary following G7 Summit in Canada

Calgary, Canada – June 17, 2025 — Following his participation in the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with leaders of Canada’s Ukrainian community in Calgary to discuss continued support for Ukraine’s defense, recovery, and global advocacy.

The meeting was co-led by Ms. Alexandra Chyczij, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), and Mr. Pavlo Grod, President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC). Participants included senior representatives from leading Ukrainian Canadian institutions, including the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, Taras Shevchenko Foundation, Canada-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, Ukrainian Canadian Students’ Union (SUSK), and the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS). Also in attendance were former Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach and former Member of Parliament Borys Wrzesnewskyj.

Ms. Chyczij spoke about the UCC’s work to build strong, sustained support for Ukraine across Canada’s political landscape, working closely with federal, provincial, and municipal governments to ensure that Ukraine remains a national priority.

In his remarks, Mr. Grod opened by expressing condolences to the people of Ukraine for the devastating loss of life and injuries caused by the recent Russian terrorist attacks on civilians. He condemned these brutal assaults and reaffirmed the Ukrainian diaspora’s solidarity with Ukraine in the face of continued aggression.

Mr. Grod then provided an update on the global Ukrainian community’s strategic initiatives since his last meeting with the President, highlighting two major areas of achievement:

1. Direct Support for Ukraine’s Armed Forces

“We do not simply advocate—we act,” Grod said. “Through the generosity of our global community across more than 70 countries, we have delivered nearly ₴3 billion (approximately USD 70 million) in equipment and aid for Ukraine’s defenders.”

This includes drones, armored vehicles, tactical medical kits, and even a medevac helicopter from Vancouver—demonstrating the power of coordinated diaspora action.

2. Global Advocacy for Ukraine’s Interests

Grod highlighted coordinated advocacy efforts focused on:

• Strengthening political support in the U.S., Canada, Australia, South America, Asia and Europe.
• Securing the seizure and transfer of frozen Russian state assets to Ukraine.
• Advocating for the return of Ukrainian POWs and children abducted by Russia.

“You can continue to count on us,” Grod said. “Our collective strength lies in our unity—and we are fully committed to Ukraine’s victory and recovery.”

Grod also outlined the UWC’s forward-looking priorities:

• Promoting a just and lasting peace including Russia’s criminal responsibility for war crimes, reparations and sanctions.

• Supporting the passage and implementation of the multiple citizenship law, which the UWC has championed by working through over 1,300 legislative amendments in close coordination with the Office of the President, the Ministry of National Unity, and all parliamentary factions.

• Inviting President Zelensky to participate in UWC’s upcoming Global Summit of Ukrainians in Kyiv on August 22–23, 2025.

• Contributing to the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, where the UWC will stress the need to preserve Ukrainian identity abroad as essential to rebuilding Ukraine’s human capital and national resilience.

“Preserving our identity has been the mission of the UWC for almost 60 years,” Grod noted. “We must ensure Ukrainians abroad remain part of the Ukrainian nation—not just emotionally, but institutionally.”

President Zelensky expressed appreciation to the Ukrainian community organizations for their critical role in advocacy and fundraising, acknowledging the strength of diaspora influence in his recent meetings with Canada’s newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney. He also welcomed the upcoming Global Summit of Ukrainians in Kyiv, recognizing it as an important moment of solidarity and strategic coordination.