The fifth Ukrainian Week in Washington, D.C. is taking place from February 2 to 7, serving as an international platform for dialogue, advocacy, and partnership between Ukraine and the United States. The event has brought together U.S. lawmakers, Ukrainian officials, religious leaders, veterans, business representatives, and civil society actors.
Fifth Ukrainian Week in Washington
The Embassy of Ukraine in the United States announced: “Ukrainian Week in Washington has officially started. This is a venue for dialogue, advocacy, and partnership between Ukraine and the United States at a time when shared values of freedom, faith, and human dignity are being tested.”
This year’s Ukrainian Week. Washington DC coincides with the 250th anniversary of the United States and focuses on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. The program includes more than 2,000 participants, among them members of the U.S. Congress and Senate, representatives of the Ukrainian and U.S. governments, religious leaders, veterans, leaders of public and humanitarian organizations, as well as the Ukrainian diaspora.
Ukrainian Week, launched in 2022, has grown into a full‑fledged working platform for advocacy and policy‑shaping, where delegations interact directly with American legislators, diplomats, military officials, and security experts.
According to the organizers, key events of the week include the International Summit on Religious Freedom, advocacy meetings in the U.S. Congress, forums on security, veterans’ affairs, education, and demography, as well as the 20th Ukrainian Prayer Breakfast and a gala concert dedicated to the shared democratic values of Ukraine and the United States.
The opening ceremony of Ukrainian Week 2026 began with a deeply symbolic moment — the laying of flowers at the Taras Shevchenko Monument.
“This is a sign of our respect for Ukrainian heritage, the power of the word, and the spirit of freedom that Shevchenko personifies for Ukrainians around the world. In the very heart of the U.S. capital, we united in prayer, memory, and determination to continue speaking about Ukraine — with dignity, faith, and hope. Ukrainian Week is more than an event. It is the voice of Ukraine that sounds here and now. Ukrainian Week in Washington demonstrates that cooperation between Ukraine and the United States rests on deep shared values and a common vision of the future,” reads on the event's website.
International Summit on Religious Freedom
The Embassy of Ukraine participated in the panel “The Impact of War on Religious Freedom in Ukraine,” where participants discussed Russia’s persecution of religious communities, the role of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the use of religion as an instrument of repression.
Among the speakers were U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Riley M. Barnes, Deputy Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Denys Senyk, Director of the “Religious Freedom” Initiative Mykhailo Brytsyn, Head of Ukraine’s State Service for Ethnic Policy Viktor Yelenskyi, NSDC Secretary Oleksandr Danyliuk, spokesperson of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine Metropolitan Yevstratiy (Zorya), and Chief Rabbis of Ukraine Yakiv Dov Bleich and Moshe Azman.
“The discussion emphasized Russia’s deliberate destruction of religious freedom in the occupied territories, including repression of religious communities, intimidation and abduction of religious leaders, seizure of places of worship, and violence against believers who refuse to come under Moscow’s control,” noted, the Embassy
Третього лютого Ukrainian Week передбачає активні адвокаційні сесії на Капітолійському пагорбі та зустрічі з конгресменами США для просування інтересів України.
Economic Partnership and Investment
On the first day of Ukrainian Week, a forum titled “Future After the War: Opportunities for Ukraine’s Security, Democracy, and Prosperity” was held at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) under its patronage.
Among those who joined the discussions on Ukraine’s postwar development in Washington were Anatolii Amelin, founder of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future (UIF); Serhii Haidachuk, founder of CEO Club Ukraine; Hans Braunfisch, founder of Pravo Ventures; and Edward Mermelstein, Global Partners NYC.
During the discussion, participants spoke about transformations in Ukrainian society, the growing role of business and technology, and the impact of digitalization on citizens’ access to public services. Within the framework of the event, the project “Vision of Ukraine 2035” was presented — a roadmap for Ukraine’s development created jointly by UIF and CEO Club Ukraine. The core idea of the project is changing the mindset and creating conditions under which Ukrainians choose to live, work, and realize themselves in Ukraine.
Memory and Advocacy
The second day of Ukrainian Week began with a memorial rally at the Holodomor Memorial, where participants honored the victims of the Ukrainian famine of 1932–1933. Among those present were Ukrainian and American lawmakers, religious leaders, and veterans, who highlighted the importance of preserving historical memory for the international community.
At the same time, advocacy meetings with members of the U.S. Congress are taking place on Capitol Hill. Delegations plan to discuss support for Ukraine, the sanctions policy against Russia, and prospects for economic cooperation. In parallel, a security forum on the Baltic–Black Sea region and the second session of the Advocacy Forum are being held, where participants are improving their skills in effective communication and advocacy strategy.
In the second half of the day, events include the Eastern European Dialogue, the National Unity of Faith Forum, and meetings with U.S. Congress members and religious leaders from Ukraine and the United States. Discussion topics cover interfaith cooperation, the protection of religious freedoms, and Ukraine’s global influence in international processes, including preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Photo: UkrainianWeek.DC, Embassy of Ukraine in the USA, Inna Shorobura
Author: Inna Mikhno