Power of the Diaspora: Keeping Ukraine on the US Agenda
Anna Hryniv is a Ukrainian journalist and communications strategist living in the US, where she actively advocates for Ukraine. In an interview with Kyiv Post, she shares how the tone of Ukrainian messaging in the West is evolving, what truly resonates with US lawmakers, and how a single toy can sometimes speak louder than a thousand words.
Kyiv Post (KP): What currently captures Americans’ attention when it comes to Ukraine? How has communication from the Ukrainian community changed?
Anna Hryniv (AH): We often hear claims that Russia is winning the information war. But from my work on various Ukrainian projects in the US, I see the opposite: Ukrainians have made tremendous strides in communication, especially in understanding American society’s nuances.
When we launched Help Ukraine Center USA in New York back in 2022, our communication style was very emotional and dramatic. We believed that if we could convey the pain we were feeling, it would automatically move hearts. And while it did evoke sympathy, it didn’t always lead to action.
Over time, we shifted to clear facts and specific needs, and that approach worked better. But the real breakthrough came when we began speaking the language of American values: support for democracy, a free society, and a modern military. That changed everything. Today, Ukrainian communication is much more powerful than it was even at the start of the full-scale war.
KP: We often hear that the West is “tired of the war.” Do you feel that’s true? And are US elections affecting this?
AH: I wouldn’t say Americans are tired of Ukraine. They’re more tired of constant bad news. I’ve traveled across the US, including deeply Republican states, and everywhere I saw Ukrainian flags and heard sincere words of support.
Yes, the attention has become more focused. In the beginning, there was a broad emotional mobilization; now, support is more targeted. But that doesn’t mean it’s disappearing – it’s transforming.
As for the elections, they are primarily about domestic American issues. We shouldn’t interpret support for Trump as synonymous with rejecting support for Ukraine. Our task is to keep Ukraine in focus – and that’s where the diaspora plays a key role.
KP: What type of advocacy is most effective today? Protests, petitions, or personal stories?
AH: The most effective approach is direct engagement with US Representatives. That doesn’t mean protests no longer matter, but it’s especially important now to communicate our messages directly to decision-makers – members of Congress and their teams.
The US has what’s called the “advocacy triangle”: government, media, and community. When these three elements work together, real change happens.
Members of Congress can’t be experts on every field – they rely on the perspectives of both professionals and ordinary citizens. That’s why advocacy from regular people works. It’s powerful. That’s why it’s crucial to show lawmakers that their constituents support Ukraine. That was the idea behind the recent Ukraine Action Summit in Washington.
KP: Did the Sixth Ukraine Action Summit deliver the results you were hoping for?
AH: It’s important to understand that this is just one project in a broader advocacy effort. But yes, I see the outcomes as very positive. I’d break it down into three parts.
First – the most obvious: we reminded lawmakers about Ukraine. This was the largest pro-Ukraine advocacy event in the US to date – over 600 advocates from all 50 states and Puerto Rico held more than 440 meetings on Capitol Hill. We spoke with one voice.
The core message – support for a just peace in Ukraine – aligns with US national interests and global security priorities. Other key topics included the return of abducted Ukrainian children, responses to violations of religious freedom, and the confiscation of frozen Russian assets.
Delegations met with key legislators, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and many others. An autumn summit has already been announced.
Second – something our communications team worked on – we successfully engaged US media outlets.
Third – and this is broader, but I think it’s important to highlight: the summit was organized by the largest Ukrainian volunteer organizations in the US. Together, they form the American Coalition for Ukraine. This coalition unites major foundations for a common goal – and that’s something Ukrainians do exceptionally well: unite and bring others together.
KP: Is it really possible to “get through” to Congress? Are Ukrainians being heard?
AH: Yes, and it’s crucial that advocacy comes from many voices. No one has a monopoly on Ukrainian advocacy. On the contrary, we encourage everyone in the US who has the opportunity to speak with officials about Ukraine to do so.
And that communication can take many forms. I remember one of the most powerful moments during Ukrainian Week in Washington. Ukrainians who had lost their families in Russian attacks personally handed Congressman Joe Wilson photographs of their loved ones and a child’s toy. Maksym Kulyk lost his wife and three children in Kryvyi Rih. Yaroslav Bazylyevych lost his wife and three daughters in Lviv. They came to Washington to say: “Show the world what Ukraine is going through. Help us.”
These gestures are real. And they reach deeper than any press release.
KP: What projects are you working on now?
AH: One of our main focuses right now is drawing attention to the abduction of Ukrainian children. I’m coordinating the “Children Pray for Children” advocacy campaign, led by the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America (UNWLA).
This initiative is taking place across the US around June 1 – International Children’s Day. Over 25 events will be held in various cities, including interfaith prayers, public actions, and meetings with local officials. The central event is a collective prayer in Washington, co-organized with the Embassy of Ukraine.
It’s a powerful gesture of solidarity, and a reminder to the world of the 20,000 Ukrainian children taken to Russia, many of whom remain in so-called “re-education” camps or have already been adopted by Russian families.
KP: What role do you see for the Ukrainian diaspora in the US today? Does it truly influence major processes, from media to politics?
AH: Absolutely. No one wants peace more than Ukrainians. And no one will fight for that peace as fiercely as we will, whether in Ukraine or abroad.
The Ukrainian diaspora is a huge, active, and well-organized force. Today, its mission is not only to support our homeland but also to help shape the agenda in the countries where we live – from media narratives to foreign policy. Because we know what we’re fighting for.
Source: Olena Rotari