KYIV – Support for upholding and preserving Ukrainian culture was front and center during talks between Ukraine’s Culture Ministry and a visiting delegation from the Ukrainian World Congress on Aug. 26, just days after Independence Day.
Culture Minister Tetyana Berezhna and the UWC delegation that was led by President Paul Grod discussed the key topics of securing funding for cultural projects, the law on philanthropy, the Cultural Resilience Alliance, the return of looted cultural assets, and showcasing Ukrainian culture at major international exhibitions and cultural venues.
Paul Grod and Tetyana Berezhna.
Berezhna said that Ukrainian culture has already suffered approximately $4 billion in direct losses due to the war, but its role in resisting aggression remains vital.
Grod said: “Culture is our shield and our voice. It protects the nation and shows the world the true face of Russian aggression.”
Vitório Sorotiuk, a UWC board member and former head of the Ukrainian-Brazilian Central Representation, presented Berezhna with a book commemorating 130 years of Ukrainian culture in Brazil on behalf of the global Ukrainian community.
Vitório Sorotiuk and Tetyana Berezhna.
Yuriy Klyufas, chair of the Ukrainian National Association, invited ministry representatives to Bloor Village Festival in Canada — the largest Ukrainian festival in North America — and proposed closer international cultural cooperation.
The meeting highlighted the shared commitment of the UWC and the Culture Ministry to protect Ukrainian identity and promote the country’s culture worldwide.