Commentary

THE AGREEMENTS signed Friday to bring Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia closer to the European Union could lead to a better life for tens of millions of people in the three former Soviet republics. Sadly, Russian President Vladimir Putin will take it as a setback, since he is more interested in expanding his sphere of influence than in the economic well-being of Russians or their neighbors...

On the evening of Friday May 30, 2014 several members of SUSK’s National Executive attended a fundraiser for Tribute to Liberty, a non-profit organization whose mission is to build a Canadian memorial to the victims of communism. Given that in Canada, over 8 million people trace their roots to countries that suffered under communist regimes, the memorial will highlight the suffering of victims of communism to countless Canadians while also serving as a beacon of remembrance. For many of the victims, and for their descendants, Canada represents a country of peace, order, democracy, opportunity, and above all, liberty...

Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered the following remarks at the Tribute to Liberty Dinner in Toronto: “Thank you very much. “Thank you, Senator Ngo for that kind introduction, and thank you all, ladies and gentlemen, for that very warm welcome. “Distinguished guests, colleagues from the Parliament of Canada, ladies and gentlemen. “We know the reason why we’re gathered together this evening, but let me briefly share with you the how. “In 2008, Tribute to Liberty approached our Government with an idea and a question. “First, the idea: to help construct a monument in our Nation’s Capital that would honour for all time the hundreds of millions of men, women and children who have struggled and continue to struggle against the tyranny of communism, those who lived and those who, tragically, did not...

Dear Secretary Hagel: Several friends of mine who are American veterans of Ukrainian ethnic background have suggested that I write to you about tangible non lethal U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. As you know Ukraine had been decimated militarily, initially because of economic woes, corruption, neglect and more deliberately since 2010 through the joint efforts of the Kremlin and the Kremlin's lackey Ukraine's former president Viktor Yanukovich. The latest efforts were part of a conspiracy to make Ukraine weak and thus susceptible to Russian psychological pressure, intimidation and even physical force...

On Saturday, May 31, 2014 the Ukrainian community in Quebec realized its dream to honour the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Ukraine’s most renowned poet, Taras Shevchenko, with the unveiling of a bronze bust of Shevchenko on the Allée des Poètes in Quebec City. Irka Mycak, Director of the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko (Shevchenko Foundation) was among the hundreds of spectators, who attended the official unveiling of the monument...

Euromaidan Ottawa held a successful fundraising event last week that raised more than $2000 to help internally displaced persons from Crimea resettle in other parts of Ukraine. The “Putin-propaganda-myth-busting trivia night”, held at The Three Brewers Restaurant and Microbrewery on Bank Street, was mobilized by Euromaidan Ottawa – a solidarity organization with the Ukrainian democracy movement – in partnership with the Ukrainian Canadian Professionals and Business Association, St. Matthew the Apostle Anglican Church, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Proceeds are being donated to KrymSOS (Crimea SOS), a charity registered in Ukraine, working to provide housing, social and legal assistance to internally refugee Crimeans who have fled the Russian military occupation zone in southern Ukraine...

On 12 June 2014 in Kyiv, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij and Ukraine Crisis Media Centre Coordinator for International Relations Vasyl Myroshnychenko signed a Memorandum of Understanding. In accordance with the Memorandum the UWC and its member organizations will disseminate factual information about current events in Ukraine by promoting a link on internet resources to Ukraine Crisis Media Centre live feeds. In turn, Ukraine Crisis Media Centre will add information from UWC media releases and statements to its reporting on current events in Ukraine, including information about the activities of the Ukrainian diaspora in support of Ukraine...

On 6-12 June 2014 in Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Eugene Czolij met with Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyivan Patriarchate, Patriarch Sviatoslav (Shevchuk) of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, the highest ranking state officials of Ukraine – President Petro Poroshenko, Prime Minister Arseniy Yatseniuk, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Olexandr Turchynov, the Vice Prime Minister and Ministers of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, the Mayor of the City of Kyiv, the Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine, and representatives of the media and civil society in Ukraine...

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress congratulates Ukraine's President elect Petro Poroshenko on his victory in Ukraine's Early Presidential elections in what international election observers have deemed to be a free and fair vote, the results of which express the free will of the Ukrainian people...

The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) calls upon NATO and its member countries to offer military assistance to Ukraine to enable it to overcome Russia’s brazen escalation of aggression and terrorist actions. In light of the most recent events, including the incredible seizure by Kremlin-backed militants of a bus carrying orphans and the destruction of an army transport plane with the killing of all military personnel onboard, Ukraine immediately needs military equipment to defend its people and territory...