Ukrainian Week: A Powerful Message of Women’s Partnership in Strengthening U.S.-Ukrainian Collaboration

Over 1,000 attendees gathered in Washington, D.C., last week for Ukrainian Week, a significant advocacy and community-building event aimed at strengthening ties between the United States and Ukraine. Organized by a broad coalition of nonprofits and the evangelical community, the event is organized simultaneously with the National Prayer Breakfast. It brought together policymakers, activists, and members of the Ukrainian diaspora to discuss key issues affecting Ukraine.

Ukrainian Week embodied a spirit of unity, especially for women leaders, by providing a space for them to connect and strategize future cooperation through several women-led events. This year marked an important milestone as Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA) joined as one of the event’s partners. As the oldest and largest Ukrainian women’s organization in the U.S., UNWLA’s involvement highlighted the role of Ukrainian-American women in advocacy and humanitarian efforts. Their participation emphasized cultural preservation, Ukraine’s resilience, and the importance of engaging women in international dialogue.

On Monday, February 3, 2025, UNWLA, in collaboration with the Kyiv Public School of Administration (KPSA), the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC), and Ukraine-based NGO Zemliachky, hosted the conference, “Empowering Legacy and Future of Women-Led Organizations in Ukraine and the U.S.” This event celebrated the history, highlighted the current impact, and explored the future of women-led organizations in both countries. With a strong focus on cross-cultural collaboration and empowerment, the event brought together women civic leaders and NGO representatives to discuss the evolving role of women in philanthropy, advocacy, and crisis response.

The program featured a historical retrospective, including a short film and exhibition showcasing UNWLA’s century-long legacy and the activism of Ukrainian women. Panel discussions highlighted the achievements of active women-led NGOs, and provided insights into the history of Ukrainian women’s activism and the ongoing humanitarian efforts of various organizations.

The second half of the event focused on networking and building new collaborations. Participants discussed emerging challenges and opportunities, fostering stronger connections between Ukrainian and American women leaders. Roundtable sessions addressed key topics such as leadership strategies, resource sharing, and the evolving landscape of women’s organizations in times of crisis.

By uniting diverse stakeholders, this event not only honored the legacy of women-led NGOs but also provided a dynamic platform for building long-term partnerships and strengthening the global impact of women’s leadership.

On Tuesday, February 4, Ukrainian Week hosted the Leadership Summit. One of the speakers said, “It is not about how many times you get to the peak, but how many people you bring there.” This quote reflects the main message that echoed in the speeches of all panelists: We are here together to share our experience and find ways to empower a new generation of Ukrainian leaders. Among the speakers was UNWLA President Natalie Pawlenko, who emphasized the importance of women’s leadership and the power of women’s engagement, drawing from UNWLA’s century-long history.

February 6 was designated “Women’s Day” at Ukrainian Week, with events centered around networking, leadership, and social impact. The day featured the USA-UA Women’s Forum, and the American-Ukrainian Women’s Afternoon Tea, facilitating discussions on democracy, religious freedom, and social initiatives.

At the Women’s Forum, speakers highlighted the leading role of women in Ukrainian society, particularly in politics and civic activism. Among the speakers was UNWLA’s 2nd Officer-at-Large Marianna Tretiak, who spoke about the organization’s century-long legacy of activism and shared tools and campaigns developed to help the community engage in effective advocacy practices.

Marianna’s speech was followed by a presentation from Oksana Bilozir, a longtime partner of UNWLA, who delivered an empowering message about women volunteers and the crucial role of staying engaged. As an active volunteer, she particularly highlighted UNWLA’s significant contributions to providing medical aid to Ukraine.

Later that day, Grace Nelson, a dedicated partner of the National Prayer Breakfast, hosted the Ukrainian Women’s Afternoon Tea. Jeannette Kagame, First Lady of Rwanda, among the esteemed speakers, shared her powerful story of surviving genocide and the path to forgiveness.

The growing attendance and expanding coalition of organizations, including UNWLA, reflect the increasing momentum of Ukrainian Week as a key platform for advocacy and engagement. Throughout the week, Ukrainian activists and U.S. policymakers, participated in panel discussions, summits, and gala events, emphasizing one common message:

The U.S. must continue supporting Ukraine until victory.

Ukrainian Week remains one of the vital platforms for strengthening U.S.-Ukraine relations and mobilizing support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and democratic future.