At 10:00am on October 20, 2022, representatives of the Ukrainian, Belarusian, Baltic, Syrian, Bosnian, and Peace Corps volunteer communities of the United States submitted a signed letter to the Chairmen and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees. The letter urges the committees to include vital provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act that help ensure Ukraine’s ability to prevail against the Russian invasion. The letter can be read below.
Razom for Ukraine co-organized a three-day event in Washington DC called the “Ukraine Action Summit”. During the Summit, Razom and other pro-Ukrainian organizations, all participants of the newly minted American Coalition for Ukraine, met with American legislators on the Hill, where they spoke about Ukrainian issues currently of the greatest concern to their constituents.
On the first day of the Ukraine Action Summit, advocates from all over the US gathered in the afternoon at Georgetown University for an advocacy workshop. During the workshop, they strengthened their advocacy skills and prepared for two days of Congressional meetings. About 40% of attendees were first-time advocates! Participants received advice from former Ambassador Steven Pifer, former Ambassador Michael McFaul, Robert McConnell and Emily Channel Justice on engaging with current administration staffers and gave more context on current American foreign policy.
In total, over 150 meetings were held with constituents, with most occurring between September 18-20. Over 30 states and 110 Congressional districts were represented. A further 24 meetings with principals and experts who joined the Summit to offer their expert opinions and timely research. Advocates spoke with their representatives and elected officials about expedited military aid to Ukraine, increased financial aid, and more robust sanctions against russia. Using the advocacy handbook that was prepared by the Razom Advocacy’s Research Team, advocates also discussed specific pieces of legislation currently before the House and Senate that would help Ukraine win the war.
The Summit concluded with a reception at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event was kicked off by renditions of the American, sung by Summit participant and US veteran Mark Lindqvist, and Ukrainian, sung by Eurovision winner and Ukrainian music star Ruslana, national anthems. Speakers included Representatives Marcy Kaptur, Tom Malinowski, and Peter Meijer, as well as Zaher Sahloul of MedGlobal and the Syrian-American community. Attendees also heard Ukrainian songs performed by Duet Malvy on the Bandura and Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar music performed by the Kobzarska Sich chorus.
Razom is honored to have stood with all of the advocates and organizations in the American Coalition For Ukraine, speakers, and performers who participated the Ukraine Action Summit! Bringing so many people together to fight for a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine has been incredible, and we cannot wait to hold a summit like this one again. We look forward to continuing this important work together – #Razom.
To learn more about the Ukraine Action Summit and the American Coalition for Ukraine, you can check out AmericanCoalitionForUkraine.org or check out the hashtags #UkraineActionSummit and #AmericanCoalitionForUkraine on social media. And don’t forget to add your voice to advocacy for Ukraine by writing or calling your Representatives!
On Thursday, February 23, 2017 the non-profit organization Razom is launching a new report, U.S. Policy on Ukraine: Challenges and Opportunities at an event on Capitol Hill. Intended as a comprehensive survey for policymakers and their staff, the report offers both an analysis of current policy as well as concrete recommendations moving forward. Production team is comprised of young policy professionals and graduate students. Report is part of RazomThink initiative.
“In the end, our goal is to spark conversations about why Eastern Europe is strategically significant to the United States, and how American leadership can ensure the region’s stability,” said Mykola Murskyj, a graduate student in international affairs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Murskyj has spearheaded the coordination and production of this report, managing the RazomThink team as well as the subject matter experts who contributed to the report.
Razom feels strongly that any U.S. policy on Ukraine must be underpinned by a number of concrete principles: recognition that Eastern Europe’s security and stability are also U.S. strategic interests, dedication to upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and right to self-determination; and increasing Ukraine’s capacity to face its own domestic challenges.
“Ukraine and its partners must build a successful and prosperous state on the territory it currently controls,” said Murskyj. For the U.S., this means maintaining a shrewd sanctions stance and keeping the costs high for potential Russian escalation, while simultaneously helping Ukraine grow its economy and reform its political system.”
Passport DC is month-long journey around the world highlighting DC’s thriving international diplomatic community and its lively and varied culture. We were honored to be invited by two different embassies, Embassy of Lithuania and Embassy of Ukraine to showcase Ukrainian culture during the Open Doors events of Passport DC.
Cultural exploration into an iconic Ukrainian figure.
In honor of Taras Shevchenko Month, this contemporary cultural event in Washington, D.C. explored the revolutionary Ukrainian figure that was Taras Shevchenko and his profound impact on Eastern European culture. Poetry, song, dance, and art brought a whole new element to the historical figure.
