Ukraine

Threat to judicial reform defused after meeting of G-7 ambassadors, judicial officials, members of parliament

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KYIV – Ukraine’s attempt to reform its unruly judicial system reached a pivotal point on September 13 when the body that disciplines judges failed to appoint three of its own members to a corresponding ethics committee that is supposed to vet members of the High Council of Justice (HCJ).

The body, which mainly hires and fires judges, didn’t appoint three judges to the committee who were to be joined by three international experts that were chosen on September 10 jointly by a delegation of officials from the U.S., the European Union, Germany, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Council of Europe, the U.N. Development Program and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

Ukraine

Kyiv seeks upgraded military hardware as Russia concludes massive Zapad-2021 war games

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KYIV – Russia’s massive quadrennial Zapad (west) war games ended on September 16 as Belarusian authorities reported that shots were fired at a border sign post from Volyn Oblast in Ukraine.

The Zapad-2021 drills, held partly with military forces in Belarus, included 200,000 soldiers, 240 artillery installations, 290 tanks, 80 aircraft and 15 vessels, Russia’s Defense Ministry said.

Ukraine

Zelenskyy says Ukraine is determined to host Winter Olympics

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LVIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is determined to see his country host the Winter Olympics.

Speaking during a celebration that marked the 30th anniversary of the creation of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine on September 11, Mr. Zelenskyy said  he believes there will come a day when the Olympic Games will be held in Ukraine.

Analysis

Ukraine at 30: What does the mirror show?

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Independent Ukraine in its most modern and sustained incarnation has just turned 30. But now that the celebrations are over, it’s important to pause and take stock.

What do we actually know about the real state of things beneath the opaque, yet distracting, surface of crude politics and still pervasive corruption?  These are unpleasant factors, yet they overshadow the enduring resolute resistance to Russia’s aggression, ongoing complex systemic transformation and the evolving self-identification and aspirations of the state and its people.

For the record

UAB Steering Committee releases statement following Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s White House meeting

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The following statement was released by Ukrainian Americans for Biden (UAB) on September 14 following the working visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the United States.  

The meeting between Ukrainian Presi­dent Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden at the White House, as well as President Zelenskyy’s meetings with key Cabinet officials and Congress­ional leaders in Washington was a solid success with tangible results. The most important outcome: U.S.-Ukraine relations are back on solid ground. The agreements signed and decisions made during the working visit advance U.S.-Ukraine relations. Ukrainian Americans for Biden (UAB) welcomes the return to normalcy and stability in a relationship both exploited and neglected by the previous administration.

Newsbriefs

NEWSBRIEFS

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Lawmakers try to reverse NS2 waiver

A group of bipartisan lawmakers is seeking to undo U.S. President Joe Biden’s decision to waive sanctions on the Russian-owned operator of the Nord Stream 2 (NS2) pipeline in a last-ditch effort to stop it from pumping gas to Europe. An amendment introduced on September 14 by Reps. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), and about eight other lawmakers orders the president to impose sanctions on any entity responsible for the planning, construction or operation of the NS2 pipeline. It also authorizes new mandatory sanctions to foreign entities and individuals responsible for the planning, construction and operation of NS2.

Community Chronicle

Ukrainians in Illinois mark 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s renewed independence with parade and festivities

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CHICAGO – The last weekend of August was filled with celebration here as the Ukrainian community marked the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s renewed independence.

The festivities began on August 27 with the raising of the Ukrainian flag in Chicago’s Daley Plaza by members of Post 32 of the Ukrainian American Veterans. The flag was raised alongside the flags of the United States and the city of Chicago.

Community Chronicle

Ukrainian community of Illinois holds ecumenical prayer and gala concert to mark 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s renewed independence

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BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. – Members of the Ukrainian community in Illinois marked the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s renewed independence with a gala concert and an ecumenical prayer on August 28.

The event, held in collaboration with the Consulate General of Ukraine in Chicago, was hosted by St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Bloomingdale, Ill.

Ukraine

Budding Odesa-based volunteer NGO celebrates fourth anniversary
Group aims to build a culture of volunteering throughout Ukraine

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ODESA – The Odesa-based non-governmental organization Ukrainian Volunteer Service (UVS), a group that aims to promote a culture of volunteering, celebrated its fourth anniversary on August 29 with a gathering at the Odesa Fine Arts Museum.  The event drew together members, partners and participants of the group’s projects in order to highlight the successes and chart a course for the future.

Editorials

Crippling NS2

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We knew that it would take some time to see whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did enough to persuade U.S. President Joe Biden during their White House meeting on September 1 that the U.S. president needed to do more to help Ukraine fend off a barrage of ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine.  That belligerence has taken on various forms, be it via Russia’s design to use the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as an economic weapon against Ukraine, or through an all-out war in eastern Ukraine, where the country’s military has come under increasing assault in recent weeks.

Turning the pages back...

Sept. 19, 1976

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Forty-five years ago, on September 19, 1976, a monument bust of Ukrainian poetess Lesia Ukrainka was unveiled at the Soyuzivka Heritage Center.

During the unveiling ceremonies, attended by more than 2,000 people, Natalka Chuma recited a verse from the poem “Contra Spem Spero” by Ukrainka. “Up the steep pathway on the rocky flinty hill, I’ll bear my rocky burden all day long. And though I carry such a load, I still shall keep my heart and sing a happy song.”

For the record

Archeparchy of Philadelphia issues statement commemorating victims of September 11

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The following statement was released on September 11 by the Archeparchy of Philadelphia of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

On September 11, 2001, the United States of America experienced the darkest hour in its recent history – the deadly terrorist attack that claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 people.

Letters to the Editor

Two crucial details missing from the story on Zelenskyy’s visit to Stanford University

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Dear Editor:

I read with interest Roman Tymotsko’s report about Ukrainian President Volody­myr Zelenskyy’s speech at Stanford Univer­sity that appeared in the September 12 issue of The Ukrainian Weekly. Regret­tably, the reporter missed two crucial details. Introducing President Zelenskyy, Michael McFaul, director of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, emphasized the historical significance of the fact that this was the first visit of a Ukrainian president to Stanford University.

Letters to the Editor

Guidelines for letters to the editor

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The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters to the editor that react to articles published on its pages. Opinions expressed by letter writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of either The Weekly editorial staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian National Association.

Commentary

The White House summit

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In the history of U.S.-Ukraine relations, it was a long-time coming. The Biden-Zelenskyy summit did happen within the language of “this summer.” There were two brief postponements, but, if anything, they contributed to the duration of a meeting scheduled for only one hour but one that actually lasted for two. At least Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy boasted that the length of the meeting was indicative of success. More likely, length was irrelevant, at best a concession to or reward for President Zelenskyy’s patience.