More than 700 delegates from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia gathered in Washington, D.C., on April 19–22 for the eighth Ukraine Action Summit to advocate for Ukraine. It was the biggest summit to date.
Twice a year, the U.S. capital becomes one of the most pro-Ukraine places in America as advocates from across the country travel to D.C. for the Ukraine Action Summit. Many of them have no Ukrainian heritage at all, yet they are united by a shared commitment to ensure that Ukraine remains a priority for American lawmakers.
“I call myself Ukrainian by choice. I’m wearing a vyshyvanka – this is my first one. I always wear it on special occasions, like the Ukraine Action Summit,” said Craig Gresbrink, a delegate from California.
Sashko Krapivkin, Nova Ukraine’s Director of Advocacy & Engagement, said, “Every one of our delegates has a story worth telling. Among them are business owners, former congressional staffers, farmers, teachers, artists, and many others.”
“They invest their own time and money, take days off work, and leave their families behind to come to Washington, meet with members of Congress, and speak with their elected officials about Ukraine.”
How It Works
The Ukraine Action Summit is organized by the American Coalition for Ukraine, an alliance of organizations united by a shared mission: building community among supporters of Ukraine, raising awareness of Ukrainian culture, history, and current events, and strengthening American support for a just peace and Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Nova Ukraine is proud to be one of the coalition’s founding organizations.
The Summit traditionally begins with a conference and networking day, allowing delegates to reconnect with old friends and meet new advocates from across the country who share a commitment to supporting Ukraine.
This spring, nonprofit organizations represented at the Summit were invited to introduce their work to fellow participants. The session helped both large and small organizations learn more about each other’s missions, identify areas of overlap, and explore opportunities for collaboration. It was a valuable reminder that supporting Ukraine is a collective effort, strengthened by partnerships and shared expertise.
“There is no more important cause at this moment,” Nova Ukraine CEO Ambassador Erin E McKee told the delegates. “The values that Ukraine and America share are an enduring belief in freedom, prosperity, sovereignty, and self-determination. It’s what this country was founded on, and what we fought for 250 years ago. And that’s why this summit, your voices, and your presence matter today more than ever. Ukraine is not a charity case. It is a strategic ally.”
One evening was dedicated to volunteers. It honored their grit and commitment. Without them, none of the work happens.
“I know what it costs for you to be here,” Nova Ukraine Board Director Nick Bilogorskiy told the crowd. “You have jobs waiting at home. You have classes to go back to. You have mortgages to pay. You have friends and family asking, ‘When are you coming back?’ And yet you’re here. You voted with your feet. You got into cars, trains, and planes, came here, and you’re choosing to spend your time and effort on this, and I respect that so much. Thank you.”
Following networking events, delegates took part in advocacy training to prepare them for meetings on Capitol Hill and help them communicate effectively with lawmakers and their staff.
“These are important meetings, and you can’t walk into them unprepared,” said Krapivkin. “We walk delegates through the principles of effective advocacy, share lessons learned from previous meetings, and review the key policy priorities for the Summit. Every Summit has a focused set of legislative issues that delegates discuss with members of Congress and the Senate.”
This year, advocates presented three key priorities:
- Strengthening sanctions on Russia by urging Congress to close existing loopholes and increase economic pressure on the Kremlin through measures such as the Peace Through Strength Act and the Shadow Fleet Act.
- Expanding defense and economic partnerships with Ukraine by supporting formal frameworks that recognize Ukraine’s defense innovation and battlefield expertise as long-term strategic assets for the United States.
- Securing the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia by calling for continued U.S. diplomatic and legal efforts to support rescue and rehabilitation initiatives and hold those responsible accountable.
On the issue of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, Nova Ukraine Board Director Dr. Igor L. Markov told delegates, “There’s one number that I do want you to remember. It’s the number 20,000. 20,000 is the minimum confirmed number of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, kidnapped by the Kremlin, and forcibly deported to Russia. They’re being re-educated and stripped of their Ukrainian identity. They’re even forced to serve in the Russian military fighting their homeland. This number is from 2023. Since then, more kids were abducted, and it’s a war crime.”
The Impact
Early on the second day of the Summit, delegates gathered on the Capitol steps for the Summit’s traditional group photo. After, they split into state delegations and began two days of meetings with lawmakers and their staff. Over the next two days, delegates held 445 meetings with members of Congress, advocating for a strong U.S.-Ukraine partnership, resulting in over 60 new co-sponsors on targeted legislation.
These were not just conversations. They were dialogues built on facts and evidence, explaining why each member of Congress and senator should support specific pieces of legislation.
“Every vote matters. Literally every single vote can change the outcome of a vote in Congress and, ultimately, the fate of a bill. We’ve seen this happen many times before. Support may start small, but through advocacy, we can help lawmakers understand that supporting the legislation we bring to their attention is a matter of principle and a way to stand up for democratic values,” explained Krapivkin.
His words were prescient as, soon after the Summit, the House passed the Ukraine Support Act by a vote of 226 to 195. The bill provides significant military and economic support to Ukraine, making it the most consequential Ukraine-related legislation since President Trump took office.
It is a powerful reminder of how important it is to keep Ukraine on the agenda of American lawmakers. The next Ukraine Action Summit will take place this fall.
See you in Washington!
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