On February 3, Ukrainian Week began in Washington, during which many events, including cultural ones, are planned to support Ukraine.
Ukrainian Week, one of the most significant events of the year, has started. It is a series of important meetings between representatives of Ukraine and the USA, where they discuss support for our state, the reconstruction of the country and a just peace. Why is this needed? To promote Ukrainian interests in the USA, strengthen international partnerships, influence global support for Ukraine, and continue cultural diplomacy as a tool for the fight for Ukraine. Ukrainian Week is not only about politics and security. It is also about our history, culture and values that unite us with the world!" - said Mykola Kniazhytskyi, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cultural Policy of the Committee on Humanitarian and Information Policy.
The People's Deputy of Ukraine, currently part of the Ukrainian delegation in Washington, delivered a speech at the Memorial to Taras Shevchenko, whom Ukrainians honoured with a wreath-laying ceremony: "Taras Shevchenko told every Ukrainian who he is. Taras Shevchenko showed every Ukrainian that there is no need to be afraid and that we should remain ourselves because we are a beautiful nation. He lived in an unfavourable environment, in an empire that destroyed his people and wanted to destroy him as a person as well. But he demonstrated his inner strength and taught that each of us should have this strength. We are here now to tell every American, every representative of this fraternal and friendly nation, whose support we need so much, just as Shevchenko told about Ukraine worldwide."
In addition, the Ukrainian delegation laid wreaths at the Memorial to the Victims of the Holodomor-Genocide in Ukraine of 1932-1933. The author of this monument is Larisa Kurylas, a Ukrainian whose mother survived the Holodomor. Joe Wilson, a Republican representative from South Carolina in the US House of Representatives, a politician who consistently supports Ukraine, joined the event.
A Coordination Briefing with Oksana Markarova also occurred at the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, where they discussed Ukrainian-American cooperation. Separately, the delegates met with the Ukrainian community.
"Ukrainian Week brought together representatives of our state and the US to confirm that support for Ukraine continues, and our struggle for freedom remains the focus of international attention. It is about common values and interests, about mutual understanding and partnership," Mykola Kniazhytskyi emphasized.
At a thematic forum on the demographic situation in Ukraine, the deputy noted: "The main thing that russia is fighting against in Ukraine - it wants not just to occupy our state, but also to destroy our population in several ways such as to kill or expel from Ukraine or forcibly take them to the russian federation. We have seen how many children are brought to russia. Or assimilate - so that people forget both their roots and their values. Also, it seems that demographic, school and educational programs to support the birth rate in Ukraine are extremely important. Our school should also work with our children who are outside Ukraine. The state should support it, so people preserve their identity and values and can return."