On November 9, 2015, representatives of the Ukrainian Council of Churches and Religious Organizations – Patriarch of Kyiv and all Ukraine Filaret, Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Sviatoslav Shevchuk, Chief Rabbi of Ukraine Jacob Bleich, together with official representatives of Ukraine – Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S. Valeriy Chaly and Deputy Head of Presidential Administration Rostyslav Pavlenko, under coordination of the President of U.S.-Ukraine Foundation Nadia McConnell and with the participation of Archbishop of Philadelphia Stefan Soroka met with representatives of the White House and the U.S. Department of State to discuss the issues of increasing U.S. support of Ukraine, particularly in the humanitarian sphere.

From the U.S. side, participants included Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs Dr. Charles Kupchan, Special Assistant to the President for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Melissa Rogers, National Security Council Director for Eastern Europe Elizabeth Zentos, NSC Director for Ukraine Eric Ciaramella, NSC Director for Humanitarian and Crisis Response Christine Gottschalk, Policy Advisor for Europe and Eurasia in the Secretary of State’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs Dr. Jennifer Wistrand.

Representatives of Ukraine stressed the importance of strengthening the U.S. support in countering Russian aggression and overcoming its consequences, particularly as concerns assistance to internally displaced persons, rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure and support to the most vulnerable. 

They handed to the representatives of the U.S. Administration a letter to President Barack Obama calling for stronger military, financial and political support and assistance in the humanitarian sphere.

The parties agreed to cooperate in the realization of this ambitious project.