Ukraine Action Summit: Advocacy That Delivers Results

More than 750 delegates from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia gathered in Washington, D.C., on October 25–29, 2025, for the seventh Ukraine Action Summit — the largest gathering of American advocates for Ukraine to date. 

Organized by the American Coalition for Ukraine (ACU), the Summit united community leaders, experts, and volunteers who came together around one goal: to strengthen U.S. support for Ukraine. Nova Ukraine, as one of the founding organizations of the Coalition, played an active role in coordinating advocacy efforts, preparing delegates, and shaping unified messages for Congress.

Over five days, delegates held 451 meetings with members of Congress to ensure that Ukraine remains a bipartisan priority in Washington. These meetings were part of a coordinated effort involving hundreds of volunteers across the United States. Each state delegation met with senators and representatives to discuss key legislation and deliver clear, unified messages in support of Ukraine.

Four Policy Priorities of the Summit

This fall, the Summit focused on four major policy pillars identified by the Coalition.

• Make Russia Pay. Delegates urged lawmakers to support the transfer of immobilized Russian assets to Ukraine through the REPO Implementation Act and the PEACE Act. The goal of these measures is to ensure that Russia — not U.S. taxpayers — covers the cost of rebuilding Ukraine and compensating for the damage caused by its aggression.
• Sanctions Against Russia. Advocates called for advancing the Sanctioning Russia Act, a bipartisan and bicameral initiative in both the Senate and the House that strengthens sanctions and closes loopholes. The bill represents the strongest sanctions package yet proposed and has long been supported by Ukrainian and American advocates.
• Return Abducted Ukrainian Children. Delegates supported resolutions in the Senate and the House (S.Res.236 and H.Res.564) condemning the abduction of Ukrainian children and demanding their return before any peace negotiations with Russia. The resolutions reaffirm that Ukrainian children cannot be used as bargaining tools in any diplomatic process.
• Security Guarantees and Economic Partnerships. While not tied to a single piece of legislation, this policy area focused on long-term cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. Discussions included strengthening Ukraine’s defense capacity, supporting the transfer of modern technologies, and expanding economic partnerships as a form of security guarantee for the country’s future.

Early Results and Growing Momentum

Only two weeks after the Summit, the first results are already visible. A total of 32 new co-sponsorships have been added across multiple pieces of legislation supporting Ukraine – including S.2918 and H.R.5835 (REPO Implementation Act), H.R.2548 and S.1241 (Sanctioning Russia Act), S.Res.236 and H.Res.564 (Return Before Peace), and H.R.5797 and S.2805 (SST Act). In Congress, a co-sponsorship means more than symbolic backing: it is a near-guaranteed “yes” vote when the bill reaches the floor.

Delegates reported that their meetings were productive and increasingly well received. Congressional offices that had previously been cautious are now opening their doors, noting the professionalism and persistence of Ukrainian-American advocates. Many offices emphasized that steady and informed outreach from constituents plays a crucial role in keeping Ukraine a bipartisan priority.

The American Coalition for Ukraine, whose founding members include Nova Ukraine, United Help Ukraine, Razom for Ukraine, the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, and the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, unites over 45 U.S.-based organizations. Each member organization helps define priorities, prepare delegates, and ensure that advocacy leads to real legislative progress.