On Tuesday, June 10th, I headed to Washington, D.C. for the following two reasons: (i) to cover Donald J. Trump’s celebration of the 250th birthday of the U.S. Army, which just so happened to coincide with his 79th birthday; and (ii) to devote 2.5 days to advocacy behalf Ukrainian Community.

Opening Reception. After checking into my hotel, I walked three blocks to the White House, hoping there would be some protesters outside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. There were only five or six, so after 15 minutes, I headed to the Capitol Hill, where the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America was hosting a cocktail reception and awards ceremony in U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations Hearing Room, which is located in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The hors d'oeuvres included way too many cheese cubes—but the drinks were free. My beverage of choice? Diet Coke, straight up.

At the ceremony, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) received the Shevchenko Freedom Award, and Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) accepted the same honor on behalf of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. In accepting his award, Blumenthal was emphatic: Congress should have done more in 2014 when Russia launched its attack on Crimea. He recalled one trip to the Ukraine, when encountering refugees fleeing Ukraine, he took particular note of children carrying teddy bears. Blumenthal emphasized the need to arm Ukraine, stating what should be obvious to everyone, “Ukraine’s fight is our fight.” Noting that the U.S. military could learn a lot from Ukraine’s pioneering drone program, Blumenthal concluded by highlighting the Ukrainians’ scrappy, can-do spirit.

Before Blumenthal received his award, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, read a letter from Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Andril Sybiha. As is typical of every communication from a Ukrainian official to a United States audience, Sybiha extended profuse thanks to Congress for its continued support of Ukraine. The letter also touched on the almost 20,000 Ukrainian children who have been forcibly transferred to Russia.

During her remarks, Ambassador Markarova recognized the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s 85th Anniversary, stating:

This is not just an organization that observed history — it helped shape it. From aiding post-WWII displaced persons to securing recognition of the Holodomor as genocide, UCCA has stood as a reliable partner for Ukraine and its people.

She then implored everyone, “Let’s all work for justice and peace [so that we can] dance, raise crops, raise children—the things that make us Ukrainian.”

Following Markarova’s speech, Ted Deutsch, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, took the mic. He began by recounting the Russian attacks against Ukrainian civilians in recent days. Deutsch explained that AJC supports Ukraine because AJC supports democracy. Correctly reading the room, Deutsch called for Ukraine’s admission to NATO.

According to my notes, which are admittedly a bit jumbled, the next speaker was a former First Lady of Ukraine. If I recall correctly, she presented Ukrainian World Congress President Paul Grod with a candle holder made with a Russian missile’s remnants and the glass from the building that was hit by that missile.

Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL) also spoke, noting that his mother was born in Lithuania, so he is particularly sensitive to Russian expansionism, particularly because Putin’s next target could be the Baltics (and even Poland).

Durbin is the co-chair of the Senate Ukrainian Caucus. No doubt many Ukrainians in the audience were saddened when Durbin recently announced his retirement. He has been a true friend to Ukraine over the last 3.5 years. Hopefully the war will be history by the time Durbin retires in 2026.

Dr. Eric Patterson, President and CEO of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, also offered brief remarks. On my last trip to Washington, D.C., I visited the Foundation’s Victims of Communism Museum, which is located at 900 15th Street, NW. When I visited the special exhibit pertained to the Vietnam War. After the speeches, I told Patterson’s assistant that the Museum’s next special exhibit should address Putin’s war against Ukraine. In its defense, the museum does have 50 paintings by Nikolai Getman, a Ukrainian prisoner who was held in a Russian gulag, on display.

I didn’t stick around following the speeches. Having arrived in D.C. earlier in the day, I needed nourishment, as well as downtime in my hotel room.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]

**Standing in Front of the White House**

**Did the Vatican Fake Paul McCartney’s Death Back in 1970? "Turn Me on Deadman"**

**The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s Michale Sawkiw, Jr. Recommending a Book During His Speech Welcoming those Attending the Committee’s Celebration of Its 85th Anniversary**

**Senator Richard J. Durbin Standing Once Again with Ukraine At a Reception in the Dirksen U.S. Senate Office Building**

**Catholic Prelate Borys Andrij Gudziak Leading a Silent Prayer on Behalf of Ukraine**

**Holding the Shevchenko Freedom Award Immediately Before It is Awarded to U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal**

**An Azovstal Defender Stands While Listening**

**Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal in an Expressive Mood**

**Posing Together: Michale Sawkiw, Jr., Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ambassador Oksana Markarova, and Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC)**

**Former Congressman Ted Deutsch, Now the CEO of the American Jewish Committee, Explaining Why AJC Stands with Ukraine**

**Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) Speaking about the Importance of Supporting Ukraine**

**Ukrainian World Congress President President Paul Grod Speaking**

**Displaying the Candle Holder Made of Fragments from a Russian Missile and Glass from the Building that the Missile Struck**

**The Victims of Communism Museum Across the Street from McPherson Square**

Hudson Institute Briefing. Wednesday morning, everyone who was in Washington, D.C. for the advocacy campaign met at the Hudson Institute for a briefing before heading to Capitol Hill. Due to a prior commitment, I missed the first hour of the meeting. Former Senator Rob Portman participated in a panel discussion.

As I was arriving, Pastor Mark Burns took the podium. Burns serves as Donald J. Trump’s spiritual advisory. Later in the day, when one advocate mentioned that the group had met with Trump’s spiritual advisor earlier, one Capitol Hill denizen looked puzzled, sardonically asking, “Donald Trump has a spiritual advisor? Really?”

Burns asserted that he was an early MAGA adherent, claiming that he was more MAGA than most. As the pastor of Harvest Praise & Worship Center in South Carolina, Burns claimed that “I am a loud Black Man,” who was about to take everyone in the room to a Sunday morning church service in a Black church.

At the start of Putin’s war against Ukraine, Burns was vehemently opposed to providing Ukraine with assistance. Believing what he had heard, Burns could never support a country that was racked by corruption; infested with neo-Nazis; and denied religious freedom to Jews, Muslims, and the Pentecostal faithful.

Despite his reservations, Burns eventually traveled to Ukraine, apparently at the invitation of a rabbi. Once on the ground, he realized that the Ukrainians were tolerant toward other religions. The Russians were the ones who impeded religious practices, destroying over 700 churches. Visiting Bucha, Burns concluded that what he was seeing was not war, but instead, war crimes. He talked about children with their heads blown off and Russians executing prisoners.

In Burn’s mind, “Supporting Ukraine is America First.” He advised everyone in the room to repeat that line when visiting with people on Capitol Hill later in the day. In concluding, Burns said, “I am not on the Left; I am not on the Right; I am for what is right,” which was a phrase that was repeated more than once on Capitol Hill.

**Pastor Mark Burns Taking Everyone to Church**

**Pastor Mark Burns Explaining Why Ukraine’s Fight is America’s Fight**

**The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s Michale Sawkiw, Jr. Rallying the Troops**

**Catholic Prelate Borys Andrij Gudziak Speaking**

**The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America’s Michale Sawkiw, Jr. Holding Up a Sign that He Hopes the Advocates Will Distribute on Capitol Hill During Their Visits**

Two Days of Lobbying. On Wednesday and Thursday, I joined the group from the Midwest in advocating for Ukraine on Capitol Hill. Over the two days, we had appointments with members of both the House and Senate. In some cases we met with the members; in others we met with staff members.

On Wednesday, the sub-group I was with touched bases with Senator Tammy Duckworth D-IL), Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), and staff members from the offices of Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Senator Kevin Kramer (R-ND). On Thursday, we met with Representative Mike Quigley D-IL), Representative Delia Ramirez (D-IL), and the staff members from the offices of Representative Jan Schakowksy (D-IL) and Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI).

Unlike my visit to Capitol Hill in February as part of an earlier Ukrainian advocacy effort, Capitol Hill was abuzz with activity this time around. Take Representative Quigley, who has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, speaking at Ukrainian rallies since the start of the current war. In February we met with him in his office, but today, we only had the opportunity to shake his hand as he rushed into the House chambers to deliver a speech. I don’t recall the topic of his speech, but everyone else was pre-occupied with Donald J. Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.

During each meeting, the advocates hammered away at three specific points. First, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) introduced Senate Bill 1241 on April 1, 2025, which would “impose sanctions and other measures with respect to the Russian Federation if the Government of the Russian Federation refuses to negotiate a peace agreement with Ukraine, violates any such agreement, or initiates another military invasion of Ukraine, and for other purposes.” In every meeting, someone in the group asked about the status of the bill and its House counterpart. The advocates used the large number of Senators and House members who had already signed onto these bills as leverage to move the more reluctant members. Progress was made.

Second, more than one advocate referenced the kidnapping of Ukrainian children. Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN-D) had paved the way for the advocates when she introduced Senate Bill 2119, which would enhance United States support for identifying and recovering Ukrainian children who have been abducted by the Russians, and that would hold the appropriate officials accountable for such abductions. Everyone agreed this bill was a no-brainer. Kidnapped children are an easy sell.

Third, a reporter from Voice of America (“VOA” ) joined the group. She was disturbed that the Trump Administration was in the process of dismantling VOA. Claiming that VOA is the most objective news organization in the world, the reporter noted how VOA counters Russian misinformation. To substantiate her claim of impartiality, she noted that whenever she wrote a story quoting a Republican, her editors always required that a Democrat be quoted in the same piece.

Over the two days, a number of people offered personal testimonies demonstrating why VOA is such an important news source. Years earlier, they had listened to VOA radio transmissions; those being an objective source of the news, and the only one coming from the West.

Unlike last time, I decided to offer my two cents. I chose to point to a recent report that Putin has deployed troops along its 830-mile border with Finland. Particularly troubling, the composition of troops and equipment mirrors Putin’s deployment of troops along the Ukrainian border immediately before the February 24, 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. I said, “Even if you hate the Ukrainians, their battle is our battle. If they don’t repel Putin’s efforts in Ukraine, Putin will move on to Finland or the Baltics. Then the United States has a huge problem, because unlike Ukraine, Finland and the Baltics are NATO signatories, which means the United States would have obligations under Article V.” in my mind, first and foremost, the United States must arm Ukraine.

One incident is particularly worth noting. A Ukrainian war veteran jointed us during our time in Senator Durbin’s office. The man was missing a leg and seated in a wheelchair across from Durbin. After the group completed its pitch, Durbin, with a laser-like focus, turned to the vet, wanting to know the details of his service. Note to the Ukrainians organizing these advocacy events. Next time, bring more veterans.

I left with the same sense that I had about the February lobbying effort. Each day, every member of Congress must receive at least four or five, if not more, visits from groups advocating for a wide variety of causes. When we were delayed in seeing one representative because another group was meeting with his staff in a conference room, I said to the receptionist, “It’s like having planes circling the airport waiting until they are assigned a landing spot.” She laughed, acknowledging that my analogy just about summed up what goes on daily.

Against that backdrop, I am not convinced that advocacy changes minds, but it does keep the issue toward the top of the proverbial pile.

And a tip for anyone who decides to enter the Halls of Congress. There is a trick to the office numbering system. The second numeral in the number is the floor on which the office is located.

**A Statue of Senator Richard Russell Displayed in the Rotunda of the Office Building Name for Him**

**An Elevator Bank in the Russell Office Building**

**Dr. Mariya Dmytriv-Kapeniak Displaying the Ukrainian Flag Behind Senator Tammy Duckworth**

**Senator Mark Kelly’s Spacesuit Displayed in His Hart Office Building Entranceway—Often One of the Items to be Found in a Scavenger Hunt for New Senate Staffers**

**Posing with an “I Stand with Ukraine” Sign Following a Meeting**

**Posing with Senator Richard J. Durbin on the Photo Friendly Side of His Office in the U.S. Capitol**

**Looking Out the Window of the U.S. Senate’s Hart Office Building Toward Union Station**

**A Ukrainian Soldier Receiving Medical Treatment in the United States Who Joined the Advocates on Capitol Hill**

After two days of work, everyone needed a reward for their effort. Senator Charles E. Grassley, declared Thursday night “Movie Night,” arranging an after-hours screening of Bernard-Henri Lévy’s new documentary, Our War, in the otherwise locked down Capitol building. Talk about a heady experience.

Much to my surprise, Lévy, France’s famed public intellectual, was present for the screening. I’ve seen several documentaries about the Ukrainian War. Our War was by far the best. The cinematography, deeply saturated colors, and editing were all masterful. Basically, Lévy and his film crew take the viewer on a tour of the Ukrainian lines, with several interludes showing Lévy meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron in the Élysée Palace, which offers far more comfortable surroundings.

The person moderating the discussion noted that the Ukrainians have been asking Lévy to wear a flak jacket to better protect himself when he is in a combat zone with incoming artillery fire. While a seemingly serious request, after watching the documentary, I saw the request to be quite humorous. Looking at photographs of Lévy on the web, I confirmed that his signature or trademark is a black suit, with no tie, and a dress white shirt, with the top two buttons unbuttoned. In an effort to stay true to his trademark vibe, Lévy went into combat wearing his black suit and white shirt. Fashion comes before safety. Imagine marring the look with a flak jacket.

From an American standpoint, the most salient moment came when Lévy was with a group of soldiers in a shelter watching Donald J. Trump dress down President Zelensky in the Oval Office. The Ukrainian soldiers did not like what they saw. Watching it live on February 28, 2025, I was embarrassed for our country. With Lévy providing an entirely different context in the documentary, I was ashamed and angry.

The person I felt the most concern for was Lévy’s cameraman, who was always running ten yards behind Lévy as he dashed into a bombed-out building seeking cover. Lévy always maintained his stylish appearance.

After the movie wrapped, Lévy offered some thoughts. Notably, he called Zelensky the single most important and influential leader of our time, dubbing him Churchillian. In Lévy’s mind, there is no other option for Ukraine, but victory.

In talking about the film, Lévy made one interesting comparison between Isis and Russia. Like many others, Lévy was focused Russia’s kidnapping of Ukrainian children. According to his account, the Russians first kidnap the children, who then undergo indoctrination. Those who are near fighting age are then sent into combat, shockingly siding with the Russians and against their own country. Apparently, the kids have been so brainwashed that they willingly take part. Putin has a very sick sense of humor.

When the Q & A began, I was quick to ask the first question, “When will this excellent film be available in the United States.” Lévy smiled, saying they are working on it. He first premiered the film last week at the Cannes Film Festival.