The Ukrainian Weekly, 2019
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INSIDE: l Obituary: Ambassador William Green Miller – page 4 l Kobzarska Sich celebrates 40th anniversary – page 9 l UBC legacy campaign and hometown concert – page 11 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association, Inc., celebrating W its 125th anniversaryEEKLY Vol. LXXXVII No. 44 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019 $2.00 Ukraine’s youth delegates have NATO chief demands Russia a voice at the United Nations get out of eastern Ukraine the honor of being chosen as Ukraine’s youth delegates to the United Nations. Before departing for New York, youth delegates research the youth sphere in Ukraine and initiate consultations with young leaders and experts in youth poli- cies. One of the essential parts is a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). High-level diplomats explained to us the main priorities of Ukraine’s foreign affairs and instructed us on our primary duties and relations with other delegations. At the United Nations, a lot of ties between coun- tries are shaped by the way they voted for resolutions in the past. If a country sup- ported Ukraine’s resolutions (for example, concerning Russian armed aggression), our relations are better than with those who Daria Horbachova did not. Presidential Office of Ukraine Roman Tymotsko during his U.N. speech. Meeting with officials of the MFA NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr immersed us in the role of youth delegates Zelenskyy at their joint press conference in Kyiv on October 31. by Roman Tymotsko on a full scale. Our diplomats inspired us and gave a thorough understanding of this RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service seized in the Kerch Strait off the coast of KYIV – After the Revolution of Dignity, responsibility and our tasks as Ukraine’s the Crimean Peninsula last November. “NATO supports Ukraine’s sovereignty Ukrainian youth received a voice at the representatives. KYIV – NATO Secretary General Jens and territorial integrity and does not recog- highest level of diplomacy. The program of In New York City, youth delegates work Stoltenberg has demanded that Russia end nize the annexation of Crimea by Russia,” Ukrainian Youth Delegate to the United closely with Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to its support for separatists in eastern Mr. Stoltenberg said. “Russia must end sup- Nations was established in 2014. For six the United Nations. During two weeks of Ukraine and called on it to withdraw all porting separatists in east Ukraine.” years in a row, two young people have been activity at the General Assembly, we mostly Russian forces from Ukrainian territory. “Russia should remove its troops and representing our country at the United help our diplomats in the work of GA’s Third Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv equipment from Ukrainian territory,” Mr. Nations General Assembly. This year, that on October 31 after talks with Ukrainian Committee, which focuses on social, human- Stoltenberg told the press conference. role was awarded to Nargis Mokhd from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mr. itarian and cultural issues. The General Standing beside President Zelenskyy fol- Odesa and this writer from Lviv. We have Stoltenberg also said Moscow must return lowing a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO since returned to Ukraine, and now we can (Continued on page 17) three Ukrainian Navy vessels that its forces Commission on October 31, Mr. Stoltenberg look back at this life-changing experience said NATO plans to increase its support for in New York. Ukraine in the Black Sea by staging military Youth delegates have a one-year man- exercises in the region. date, which includes participation in the Philadelphia celebrates Ukrainian Russia maintains that the Ukrainian United Nations General Assembly, an infor- Navy ships its forces seized in the Kerch mation campaign about their experience National Association’s 125th anniversary Strait were in Russian territorial waters at and Sustainable Development Goals in Philadelphia UNA District Committee the time. But that claim has been rejected Ukraine, involvement in other international by the Hamburg-based International events by their choice, and leading a proj- JENKINTOWN, Pa. – The Philadelphia Tribunal for the Law of The Sea. ect focused on solving one of youths’ prob- District of the UNA celebrated the 125th Earlier on October 31, Mr. Stoltenberg lems. anniversary of the Ukrainian National met with the Ukrainian president in Kyiv Ms. Mokhd and I were chosen among Association with a concert on Sunday, for talks that, according to the Presidential around 100 applicants. The application October 20, at the Ukrainian Educational Office, involved “a narrow circle” of NATO itself is a complicated task: to enter the and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, Pa. and Ukrainian officials. competition, you must film a video, write a In addition to celebrating the 125th Mr. Stoltenberg said that peace agree- motivational letter plus three essays on year since the UNA’s founding in 1894, ments aimed at resolving the ongoing con- youth policy, youth organizations and the Philadelphia District Committee flict in eastern Ukraine between Russia- Sustainable Development Goals, and pre- chose to focus on raising funds for the backed militants and Ukrainian govern- pare a CV. After the first round, the commit- UNA Publications Endowment Fund, ment forces must be implemented by all tee invites 15 participants to Kyiv for a raising $1,500 from those in attendance. sides. face-to-face interview with representatives Despite the rainy weather, over 100 He said that NATO supported Mr. of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry adults and children gathered to hear Zelenskyy’s efforts to peacefully resolve the of Sports and Youth and the Bohdan informative and reflective speakers, as conflict, adding that NATO was assisting Hawrylyshyn Family Foundation, as well as well as a variety of entertainment. Ukraine in order to strengthen its defense the previous youth delegates. UNA Chief Operations Officer/ institutions and its armed forces. An “elevator pitch” and an interview National Secretary Yuriy Symczyk high- But he said Ukraine needs to continue help the committee choose five finalists, lighted the UNA’s history and commit- Eugene Serba implementing reforms to secure the coun- who then have 30 minutes to create a proj- ment to community involvement. Editor-in-Chief of Svoboda and The try’s security and to ensure its future mem- ect and its presentation. The final round – Ukrainian Weekly Roma Hadzewycz bership in NATO. the presentation and a Q & A session on the (Continued on page 5) delivers the keynote address. project – leads the last two contestants to (Continued on page 15) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2019 No. 44 ANALYSIS Deripaska and his business empire: U.S. diplomat: Russia a ‘malign influence’ in Ukraine. Democrats claim Mr. Trump pressured Mr. Zelenskyy to investigate the Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Bidens by threatening to withhold security risks for Ukraine for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip approved military aid and by dangling a Reeker says the citizens of both Russia and high-precision weaponry: air defense weap- potential White House visit for the by Alla Hurska Ukraine are “paying a price” for Russia’s Ukrainian leader in return for an investiga- ons systems, anti-tank guided weapons, “malign influence.” In an interview with Eurasia Daily Monitor tion into Mr. Trump’s political opponents. armament for light and hard armor, artillery RFE/RL on October 31, Mr. Reeker accused The U.S. president has denied he did any- In May 2018, the National Security and guided weapons systems, guns and grenade Russia of “keeping a hot war going” in east- thing wrong. There is no evidence that ex- Defense Council of Ukraine placed Russian launchers (Kbptula.ru, accessed October ern Ukraine and described Russia’s activi- Vice-President Biden was involved in any billionaire and “aluminum magnate” Oleg 20). In 2019, a KBP product, the 2K25 ties there as an occupation. “One of the wrongdoing related to Ukraine. U.S. media Deripaska, who is close to Russian President Krasnopol artillery weapons system, was most obvious places most broadly where have also reported that trade privileges Vladimir Putin, as well as three companies observed in the Donbas (Radio Svoboda, the Russian malign influence is seen is in related to him (United Company RUSAL and October 17). According to Serhiy Moskalyuk, Ukraine, where Russia has invaded a coun- were also being withheld from Ukraine, its Moscow- and Cyprus-based branches, a senior researcher with the Independent try, has occupied a country, has continued allegedly to pressure Kyiv. The Washington Judson Trading Limited and Velbay Holdings Anti-Corruption Committee on Defense, sili- to keep a hot war going in the eastern part Post on October 24 cited people briefed on Limited) on the Ukrainian sanction list. This con is widely used in missile technologies – of Ukraine,” Mr. Reeker told RFE/RL. the matter as saying White House trade list consists of enterprises that “confront for example, in the tactical missile complex “Thousands of people have died.” He said representative Robert E. Lighthizer with- Ukraine” and “provide military components Point-U, where the element is used as an Russia has “undertaken obligations through drew a recommendation to restore some of and supplies to the Armed Forces of the antioxidant (Radio Svoboda, October 18). the Minsk process to find a way forward” on Ukraine’s trade privileges in late August Russian Federation.” However, new evi- Another Deripaska company not includ- ending the five-and-a half-year conflict after John Bolton, then national security dence recently emerged that the Russian ed on the Ukrainian sanctions list is the between Ukrainian government forces and adviser, warned him that Mr. Trump proba- oligarch still owns nearly a dozen other Dutch Emergofin B.V.