Click to watch Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as he delivers remarks at a press conference following the Normandy Peace Talks
held in Paris on December 9 between the leaders
of Ukraine, France, Germany and Russia.
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Highlights This Week
Normandy Peace Talks
- What Do Paris Talks Mean for the Russia-Ukraine Peace Process? FOUN Members Weigh In
FOUN Update
- Members Participate in Meetings on Capitol Hill
Travel to Ukraine Update
- Tourism Development - A New Priority for Ukraine
BioUkraine Update
- Young Biochemist Autumn School
Made in Ukraine Tech Startup Edition
- Mike Buryk's Interview with Nataly Veremeeva of TechUkraine
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On December 9, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for the first time during long-awaited peace talks in Paris. This summit was the first gathering of the Normandy Four, which includes French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in over three years. While the meeting failed to produce any major breakthroughs, it did result in progress on a number of technical issues and a commitment to continue the Normandy Four dialogue in spring 2020. What does this mean for the Russia-Ukraine peace process?
Click here
to read an opinion roundup featuring Ambassadors John Herbst and Alexander Vershbow, members of USUF's
Friends of Ukraine Network
.
To read the Kyiv Post's report on the details of the daylong negotiations
click here
.
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Members Participate in Meetings on Capitol Hill
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The Foundation’s Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN) is in the process of meeting with Members of Congress, relevant congressional staff and Executive Branch officials to present their
Priority Recommendations for U.S. Assistance to Ukraine 2020.
As in the case of the FOUN earlier recommendations meetings are scheduled to promote the recommendations and available members of FOUN attend and make the FOUN case. In addition, there are any number of offices where it becomes most effective for one-on-one meetings and many of the recommendations end up being distributed that way.
Recently several meetings have taken place all of which have been reassuring in saying the historical bipartisan support for legislation supporting Ukraine is holding and so far committees continue to work well on issues related to Ukraine.
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From Left: Robert McConnell, Amb. John Herbst, Rep. Bill Keating, Orest Deychakiwsky, Anders Aslund, Jaroslaw Dutkewych.
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Members of all three of FOUN’s task forces had excellent meetings with Ranking Member Congressman Mike McCaul’s (R-TX) knowledgeable Republican staff on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Ranking Member Jack Reed (D-RI)’s excellent Democrat staff of the Senate Committee on Armed Services, and with Congressman Bill Keating (D-MA), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy and the Environment.
The continuing bipartisan congressional support is specifically evidenced for example in the National Defense Authorization Act of FY2020 which should have been sent to the President by the time this newsletter arrives. Among other things the Administration’s again to authorize $250 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative has been increased to $300 million on a bipartisan basis. And, this includes lethal weapons and new authorities for coastal and anti-ship weapons, both of which were strong FOUN recommendations. There is also included specific sanctions that are directed at the construction of Nord Stream II.
FOUN’s meeting continue and we at the Foundation remain gratified by the time and effort the experts on Ukraine involved with FOUN continue to devote to the effort.
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Anna Romanova (R) and Adrian Karmazyn at
last year’s New York Times Travel Show.
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Tourism Development – A New Priority for Ukraine
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By Adrian Karmazyn
Next year, the Ukrainian government plans to spend 240 million hryvnias [about $10 million] on developing Ukraine’s tourism potential, a more than ten-fold increase from current spending levels. Leading the effort will be a new tourism development agency. Additionally, the national budget includes 500 million hryvnias ($21 million) for a youth mobility program – a new initiative promoting educational travel for schoolchildren within the country.
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By USUF Staff
The school was geared towards students who want to become scientists or work in the fields of biology or biomedicine. Its aim was to get them interested in experimental biology, to highlight the importance of the biologist profession, and to teach them laboratory skills and safety.
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Precarpathian National University Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology Hosts 40 Budding Scientists
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Made in Ukraine Tech Startup Edition
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Mike Buryk (USUF Advisory Board) Interview with Nataly Veremeeva of TechUkraine
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TechUkraine is creating a single communication hub for Ukraine as a technological nation. It facilitates collaboration with existing startup hubs, accelerator programs, VC’s, universities and Ukrainian tech entrepreneurs. Program Director Nataly Veremeeva talks about the NGO's various programs and initatives to secure greater exposure for Ukraine in the global tech community.
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Support USUF While You Shop
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Last year at this time, Amazon had contributed $100 million to charitable causes through AmazonSmile. So, when you shop using AmazonSmile and select the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation as the recipient of your support, you'll be helping to advance the important work we do to strengthen a free and democratic Ukraine.
When you shop at
smile.amazon.com
, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to support the mission of the Foundation.
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AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation's work every time you shop - and at no cost to you!
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SUPPORT THE U.S.-UKRAINE FOUNDATION'S
2019 ANNUAL GIVING CAMPAIGN
ESPECIALLY OUR WORK ON
HUMANITARIAN & VETERANS ISSUES
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Please click on the button below to make a contribution to the important work we are doing in Ukraine and Washington, DC. You can also send in a contribution by mail by addressing a check made payable to the
U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and mailing it to the following address:
U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, 1090 Vermont Avenue, NW, 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20005.
Thank you for your generous support!
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