On 5 December 2015 the Ukrainian World Congress Coordinating Council in Support of Ukraine met with Hanna Hopko, Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Foreign Affairs Committee, and People’s Deputy of Ukraine Pavlo Kyshkar.

The meeting, attended by representatives of ten of the largest national UWC member organizations, addressed the topic of cooperation between the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the global Ukrainian community.

Hanna Hopko highlighted some of the areas in which Ukrainians worldwide can assist Ukraine, including building relations within European government structures, supporting continued sanctions against Russia, developing Ukraine’s cultural diplomacy, supporting the battle against corruption and encouraging investment in Ukraine.

“The meeting was a positive step forward in strengthening relations between Ukraine and the UWC network to further Ukraine’s continued democratic development and European integration,” stated Director of the UWC Mission to Ukraine Serhiy Kasyanchuk.

The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has member organizations in 34 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries. Founded in 1967, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status.