American Coalition for Ukraine (ACU) is a coalition of nearly 100 US organizations that advocate for US support of Ukraine's defense and sovereignty, as well as strengthening U.S. relations with Ukraine. [1] [2] [3] [4] It was established in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine [5] and draws on over one million Ukrainian Americans as well as other supporters of Ukraine among the American public. It organizes conferences and expositions for supporters of Ukraine in the U.S., as well as educational sessions to prepare constituents for meetings with members of U.S. Congress.
The founding members of the Coalition including US-based Ukrainian nonprofit organizations Razom for Ukraine, Ukrainian National Women's League of America, Nova Ukraine, Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, United Help Ukraine, and Klych, as well as non-Ukrainian founding members MedGlobal and the Georgian Association in the US. The Coalition includes a number of small and medium nonprofit organizations as members. The Board of Directors is the governing body of the Coalition. [6]
As of October 2025, the Coalition reports 45 member organizations and larger number of associate organizations. [7]
The Coalition organizes Ukraine Action Summits in Washington, DC where elected officials meet their constituents to discuss legislative and operational topics related to Ukraine. [6] [8] [9] [10] Such meetings were acknowledged by US Senators Chuck Schumer, [11] Alex Padilla [12] and Bob Menendez, [13] as well as Representatives Steny Hoyer [14] and Joseph Morelle. [15] The table below summarizes statistics for the Summits, including the number of constituents registered to attend, the number of US states they represented, and the number of congressional meetings they held including drop-in meetings. [6]
| Summits | Dates | Number of constituents | US states represented | Number of meetings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 18–22, 2022 | 270 | 33 | 170 |
| 2 | April 23–25, 2023 | 320 | 34 | 176 |
| 3 | October 22–24, 2023 | 500 | 34 | 193 |
| 4 | April 13–16, 2024 | 560 | 47 | 350 |
| 5 | September 22–25, 2024 | 510 | 44 | 300+ |
| 6 | April 6–9, 2025 | 600+ | 50 + Puerto Rico | 444 |
| 7 | October 25-29, 2025 | 700+ | 50 + Puerto Rico | 452 |
Early Ukraine Action Summits were primarily organized by Razom for Ukraine (a founding member of the Coalition) and facilitated the establishment of the ACU. The second Summit increased the number of participants [3] and extended the program with networking opportunities, such as discussion panels with representatives of US nonprofits and government agencies, as well as advocacy activists. The Summit featured Viktor Yushchenko, the former President of Ukraine. [16] The Georgian Association in the US joined the ACU, and members of the Georgian community started to attend Ukraine Action Summits. [17] The third Summit further increased the number of attendees and the number of meetings on the Capitol Hill. [4] [18] [19]
The fourth Ukraine Action Summit was held April 13–16, 2024. The event included expanded participation from additional U.S. states and a greater number of congressional meetings with constituents compared to previous years. [20] [21] Summit participants met with lawmakers to discuss U.S. aid to Ukraine and advocate for the approval of major funding packages. [1] Their primary aim was persuading lawmakers to approve $61B in aid to Kyiv. [2] [3] [4] Congress passed relevant foreign assistance bills on April 20, 2024, followed by the Senate and signed by President Joe Biden. [22] [23]
The fifth Summit (September 22–24, 2024) was held in Washington, DC simultaneously with a United Nations General Assembly session in New York City and a visit by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the US. It focused on the continuation of military and humanitarian aid, and facilitating long-term cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. [24] The Summit featured an address by Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) President Paul M. Grod [25] and discussions on international support for Ukraine. [26] Immediately after the Summit, President Biden issued a statement of support for Ukraine and allocated $7.9 billion for military assistance. [27]
The sixth Ukraine Action Summit was held April 6–9, 2025, in Washington, D.C., with over 700 participants representing all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. This was the first Summit to bring delegates from every state to the capital. The event included 444 meetings on Capitol Hill with top U.S. lawmakers, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. The Summit focused on bipartisan support for continued U.S. military, economic, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and featured leadership training, advocacy briefings, networking events, and a rally at the Lincoln Memorial emphasizing shared democratic values. Speakers included Ambassador Oksana Markarova, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Oleksandra Matviichuk, Dr. Hanna Hopko, and Representative Tom Kean Jr. [28] Key advocacy messages emphasized enforcing the REPO Act, returning Ukrainian children abducted by Russia, and maintaining sanctions against Russia. [29] The Summit included discussion of bipartisan support and grassroots efforts, as well as challenges such as disinformation and changes in public opinion.
The seventh Ukraine Action Summit was held October 25-29. Despite ongoing government shutdown, it gathered more than 700 delegates from all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia who participated in over 450 meetings with US senators, representatives, and their aides. [7] The summit included a conference and expo, as well as educational and orientation sessions on advocacy strategy, policy briefings by subject-matter experts, networking opportunities for nonprofits and volunteers, and coordinated visits to congressional offices. [30] As during previous summits, it continued the Coalition’s effort to provide structured civic engagement on U.S.–Ukraine policy issues. [30] The summit pursued the following legislative priorities: [31]
Participants and speakers included Marianna Tretiak, chair of the ACU board, Erin Elizabeth McKee, CEO of Nova Ukraine and former U.S. ambassador and USAID assistant administrator, Daniel Runde, senior advisor at DevTech Systems and the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Marina Bayduyk, head of ACU’s Membership and Sponsorship Committee, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor. The summit highlighted the importance of framing Ukraine as a valuable strategic partner and active ally of the United States, rather than merely a recipient of aid, to garner broader bipartisan support for ongoing assistance. This approach aimed to shape U.S. policy in favor of a strong, sustained Ukrainian resistance against Russian aggression. [7]