During the most recent trip of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States of America, the leaders of the Ukrainian American Diaspora Community were invited to visit the United States of America Congress for the formal speech of President Zelensky on December 21, 2022.

In his remarks, President Zelensky thanked “every American” for their support of Ukraine as he delivered an address to the Joint Session of Congress aimed at sustaining U.S. and allied support for his country’s defense against Russia’s brutal invasion since February 24, 2022.

His Eminence Archbishop Daniel, assisted by Very Rev. Fr. Volodymyr Steliac (pastor of St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Silver Spring, MD) and Very Rev. Fr. Vasyl Pasakas of the Consistory of the UOC of the USA attended the historic address of the war-time President of Ukraine at the US Congress.

It must be noted that Very Rev. Fr. Volodymyr Steliac is also a chaplain in the US Air Force and assisted the Ukrainian Diplomatic Corps in welcoming to the US the President of Ukraine.

Meeting with the elected officials of the US House of Representatives and Senate, Archbishop Daniel had an opportunity to call upon them to offer any and all support for Ukraine, as the country fights for the basic human rights, survival of democracy not only in Ukraine but indeed for the world-wide community.

The Ukrainian American community was represented by the members of the major US Diaspora religious, charitable and community organizations. Prior to the formal speech of President Zelensky, Archbishop Daniel met with His Eminence Metropolitan Borys Gudziak of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, addressing common ecclesiastical matters and opportunities for cooperation, especially in the time of the Russian aggression in the ancestral homeland Ukraine.

During his address, President Zelensky acknowledged the input of the Ukrainian American Diaspora religious and community organizations. Members of the US Congress with standing ovation supported President Zelensky’s acknowledgment and responded to the greeting of the Ukrainian American Diaspora community leaders “Слава Україні!” with the resounding “Гeроям Слава!”

The highly sensitive trip of the President of Ukraine took place after 10 months of a brutal war that has seen tens of thousands of casualties and devastation for Ukrainian citizens.

The following link, provides access to the English language remarks of President Zelensky.