Pylyp Orlyk Foundation Presented Diplomats with Projects That Strengthen Ukraine’s Voice in the World
Artem Mykolaichuk, Chairman of the Board of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation, spoke at the Conference of Heads of Foreign Diplomatic Missions «Restoring Peace and Ukraine’s Leadership,» where he presented the Foundation’s key areas of activity, thanked the diplomats, and spoke about opportunities for cooperation with Ukrainian missions abroad.
The address took place in the context of the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, signed this year.
Artem Mykolaichuk named the development of cultural initiatives aimed at preserving Ukrainian identity, supporting Ukrainians abroad, and shaping a deeper understanding of Ukraine in the world as one of the key areas of the Foundation’s work. Among these projects is a translation support program, including the Para Bellum series in partnership with the «Nash Format» publishing house, through which the latest works on modern warfare, technological development, and innovation are being published in Ukrainian. At the same time, the Foundation supports the translation of Ukrainian classics into European languages. The initiative began in Denmark, where the translation of selected works by Taras Shevchenko into Danish is now nearing completion.
Another important area is support for the Ukrainian language and education abroad. Last year the Foundation became a key partner in creating a curriculum for teaching Ukrainian as a second foreign language to schoolchildren in Poland.
An important element of the work to preserve Ukrainian identity is the «Roots and Wings: A History That Unites» program. Over the past academic year, the program was taught at more than 20 Ukrainian centers to several hundred Ukrainian children in Czechia, Denmark, and Sweden.
«In this way, Ukrainian history has become one of the subjects taught in these schools and organizations, and we know that this is exactly how our young people strengthen their identity and connection to their homeland,» — said Artem Mykolaichuk, Chairman of the Board of the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation.
The Foundation also considers presenting contemporary Ukraine through art, film, and cultural events to be an important area of cultural diplomacy.
«Ukrainian Film Weeks in Czechia, art events in Prague, Copenhagen, Bratislava, New York — we strive to make sure that people talk about Ukraine not only in connection with the war, but also about its people, art, and culture. It is also important for us to restore museum spaces in Ukraine and create opportunities for historical treasures to return home.
For example, supporting the creation of the exhibition “The Path of Heroes” at the National Museum of the History of Ukraine, marking the 100th anniversary of the death of Symon Petliura.
We are confident that this cultural dimension of assistance also helps achieve political and security goals at the state level», — emphasized Artem Mykolaichuk.
A separate important area of the Foundation’s work remains the issue of Russia’s unlawful occupation of the USSR’s seat at the UN and the recognition of the Russian Federation by the Organization. Since 2022, as part of the #unrussiaUN initiative, the Foundation has been working to bring together Ukrainian and foreign lawyers, diplomats, historians, and civic activists on this topic.
«There is no basis, and certainly no legal document, confirming the transfer of powers from the USSR to the Russian Federation. And the very fact of Russia’s so-called continuation of the USSR’s UN membership cannot be called anything other than the greatest fraud of the 20th century, since it occurred in violation of all the Organization’s statutory and procedural requirements. We propose including the point about the illegitimacy of Russia’s UN membership in the talking points of bilateral contacts – not as a central topic, but as a constant presence in conversations where it is relevant», — said Artem Mykolaichuk.
Among the next steps, Mykolaichuk sees the possibility of expanding the circle of states willing to support this approach, and spreading Ukrainian experience among international partners.
The address also touched on the Foundation’s work in countering Russian disinformation and propaganda. As part of the #RethinkingRussia program, the Foundation, together with Texty.org.ua, studied Russian narratives, the mechanisms of their spread, and their impact on countries’ information spaces. In June, research on Russian propaganda in Czechia was presented in Kyiv and Prague.
Artem Mykolaichuk emphasized the Pylyp Orlyk Foundation’s readiness to work together with Ukrainian diplomatic missions to implement projects that help represent Ukraine abroad in human, cultural, and historical dimensions.
«We will be glad to see initiatives to strengthen Ukraine’s voice in the world, and to be useful
to our missions in various countries with projects that show Ukraine and Ukrainians in a human dimension, help move away from stereotypes and hostile narratives, and strengthen support and respect for our country», — said Artem Mykolaichuk.
The Pylyp Orlyk Foundation emphasizes that further partnership with Ukraine’s diplomatic representatives is an important condition for scaling cultural, educational, historical, and informational initiatives abroad and strengthening Ukraine’s voice in the world.
