Newly appointed Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Olga Stefanishyna held her first online meeting with leaders of the Ukrainian community, heads of consular offices, and honorary consuls of Ukraine in the U.S. However, the event immediately sparked outrage on social media among active Ukrainian organizations in America, which claimed they had received no invitations and learned about the meeting only afterward.
As Ukraine’s Minister of Culture Tetiana Berezhna reportedDuring the meeting, Ambassador Stefanishyna and participants discussed the results of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent visit to Washington, the dynamics of bilateral dialogue, support for Ukraine, and prospects for a just end to the war.
"We talked about ways we can strengthen each other — in advocacy work, countering russian disinformation, and expanding interregional cooperation. It is important to stay in touch, hold regular briefings, and broaden the geography of our joint initiatives. I sincerely thank everyone who joined the conversation. Your daily work, energy, and dedication are a great force that helps Ukraine win," Stefanishyna wrote.
At the same time, numerous comments appeared under the post from representatives of Ukrainian organizations in the U.S. expressing surprise and frustration that they had not been invited to join the diplomatic meeting. The situation sparked a debate about transparency in participant selection, the lack of public announcements for such events, and the broader issue of communication between the Ukrainian government and the diaspora in the United States.
"I’m trying to understand how the invitation process for these calls works and who is responsible for making the lists? If we are talking about 'community leaders' — who represented, for example, New York? Because those who do a lot of advocacy and volunteer work (I emphasize — unpaid), supporting the Defense Forces, historically are not invited to these calls. Could you direct me to the person in the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. responsible for this communication?" wrote Dmytro Topchiy, co-founder of the Liberty Ukraine Foundation, in the comments to the Ambassador.
In response, Olga Stefanishyna wrote:
"Dmytro Top, greetings. Write in po yami a message. We will gladly involve everyone."
"It’s a pity that the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University was not invited…" added Oleh Kotsyuba, Director of Publications at the Ukrainian Research Institute, Harvard University.
Other community representatives voiced similar concerns, asking how the participant selection process works and how they could be added to this “list.”
"I’m also curious how my organization, Bird of Light Ukraine, can join this dialogue. Our initiatives currently provide thousands of people in frontline communities with essential food supplies. We are restoring water systems in hospitals, schools, and towns affected by the Kakhovka dam destruction. To date, our programs have helped more than 675,000 people across Ukraine — and we’re not stopping. I also want to highlight our advocacy work on the issue of abducted Ukrainian children, which has gained attention from major international media," said Zhanna Galeyeva, CEO of Bird of Light Ukraine.
"Dear Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna, perhaps you didn’t notice, but many Ukrainian leaders, activists, and diaspora organizations were not included in this meeting. Please consider involving us in future discussions as well. Let us know how we can be invited. I hope to finally have the opportunity to meet you in person. Thank you for your work in strengthening ties with the Ukrainian-American diaspora in the U.S.," wrote Roxolana Wynar, a human rights advocate. правозахисниця Роксоляна Винар (Roxolana Wynar).
In response to the wave of criticism, Stefanishyna reacted promptly, assuring that future discussions would be more inclusive and open, allowing all interested community members to participate.
Photo: 24tv.u, Olga StefanishynaFacebook screenshots
Author: Danylo Pievchev