On Monday, September 8, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk met with the delegation of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) headed by Executive Director David Harris. The delegation arrived on September 7. Chairman of the Association of Jewish Communities and Organizations of Ukraine (VAAD Ukraine) Josef Zissels was also present at the meeting.

The parties involved discussed the current situation connected to the military aggression of the Russian Federation both in Ukraine and globally, as well as the role of international and national NGOs in mobilizing the global community to resist the Kremlin's military intervention. AJC Executive Director David Harris stated that the AJC supports the government of Ukraine in its steady and effective work in establishing the independence of the Ukrainian state and its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Ukrainian PM Arseniy Yatsenyuk gave a detailed overview of the various aspects of the Ukrainian situation and answered a number of questions posed by the delegation.

The Ukrainian PM and the AJC delegation members came to complete concord both in their evaluation of the situation and in the necessity to invigorate the efforts of the global community in fighting against this military threat.

David Harris stressed that Ukraine is in dire need of a “second front” — a global front of solidarity of all progressive humanity with the people of Ukraine, who are fighting for their freedom and independence. He also gave a glowing evaluation of the efforts of the Ukrainian government to fight all kinds of xenophobia, racism, and anti-Semitism.

“The United States of America is the leader of the free world and the flagship of Western civilization,” the Ukrainian Prime Minister stated. “It is very important to us that the USA continue and develop further its leading role in the world. President Putin isn't just fighting against Ukraine but against the entire Western world. The USA and the EU must stand together in this battle.”

Arseniy Yatsenyuk also noted that, despite multiple provocations, all attempts to sow inter-ethnic hatred and thus to discredit Ukraine in the eyes of the global community have failed completely. The head of the Ukrainian government stressed that any attempts (instigated by Russia) to destabilize the inter-ethnic peace of Ukraine will never succeed in Ukraine and will earn immediate rebuttal.

During the second half of the day, the EAJC delegation left for a short working visit to Moldova, where talks are to be held with the Prime Minister and the speaker of the Parliament, as well as a meeting with the Jewish community leaders.