A ceremonial event in Washington, on the occasion of the 34th anniversary of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, brought together representatives of the U.S. Administration, Congress, the diplomatic corps, military leadership, as well as charitable and civil society organizations that consistently support Ukraine.
The event served as an opportunity to express gratitude to Ukrainian defenders and to reaffirm the unwavering support of Ukraine by American partners.
Olena Nikolaienko, president of the Future for Ukraine (FFU) Foundation in the United States, attended the event. She joined the gathering at the invitation of the Defense Attaché of Ukraine to the United States, Major General Borys Kremenetskyi, who, along with the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S., co-organized the event.
“The presence of the humanitarian and charitable sector at such events is an important testament to the shared responsibility of state institutions, partners, and civil society in supporting the Armed Forces of Ukraine and strengthening the resilience of our country,” Olena Nikolaienko noted.
Among the distinguished guests was U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg, who reaffirmed the steadfast support of Ukraine by the United States. The Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, and representatives of the Ukrainian House, which contributed to organizing the event, also delivered words of gratitude to Ukrainian defenders.
This was not the first time the FFU representatives have participated in diplomatic-level events in Washington focused on supporting Ukraine and its post-war reconstruction. Previously, Olena Nikolaienko, together with partners from MCOP Ukraine, presented joint achievements in prosthetics and rehabilitation for Ukrainians at the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States. During meetings with Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Major General Borys Kremenetskyi, and Oleksandr Rozhkov, discussions focused on expanding access for Ukrainian veterans to advanced prosthetic solutions and on implementing international rehabilitation standards in Ukraine.
Additionally, in 2024, a foundation delegation together with veterans participating in the “Prosthetics of Ukrainians” program took part in the ‘UA–US Economic Recovery business forum within the framework of the ‘Rebirth of Ukraine’ Trade Mission in Washington, where they presented Ukraine’s charitable sector to potential U.S. donors. Speaking on the same stage with U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine’s Economic Recovery and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, CEO of the Silicon Valley Central Chamber of Commerce Harbir Bhatia, and Vice Chairman of the investment company BlackRock Philipp Hildebrand, Olena Nikolaienko emphasized social responsibility as an integral component of modern business. She also presented the work and core values of the Future for Ukraine Foundation, encouraging American partners to jointly implement charitable projects for the benefit of Ukraine.
Cooperating with government institutions and international partners is a key part of the Future for Ukraine Foundation’s activities, as rebuilding the country and supporting Ukrainians is a shared responsibility of the state, civil society, and responsible business.
Support for Ukraine from American friends and partners remains critically important — not only for strengthening defense capabilities, but also as a clear signal of solidarity: Ukraine is not alone in its resistance against the aggressor state.
