Originally posted on 21 February 2024, updated on 22 March 2024, updated 8 September 2024
2024 Talking Point 1
Preamble: Ukrainian American Veterans applaud President Biden’s continuing support of Ukraine
Be it resolved, the Ukrainian American Veterans applaud and recognize the leadership and commitment of President Joe Biden that he demonstrated by visiting Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, on Monday, February 20, 2023, Presidents’ Day, to show the commitment and support of Ukraine by the United States of America, and committed to be next to President Zelensky as long as it takes. The U.S. Army has stood up 12 Ukrainian Army Brigades in the past two years and nineteen maneuver battalions with front-line NATO Infantry Fighting Vehicles, and now training with U.S. M1A1 Main Battle Tank and NATO counterparts. The nineteenth Ukrainian Army Battalion started training in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on January 7, 2024. Currently, more than 150 Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team were honored during a deployment ceremony at Strickler Field on Aug. 21, 2024, to relieve the Mississippi Army National Guard’s Task Force Thunder.
2024 Talking Point 2
Preamble: Ukrainian American Veterans emphasize our continued support of Ukraine by the United States of America, leading other allies.
Be it resolved, the Ukrainian American Veterans commend Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin for his continued leadership of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, comprised of representatives of 57 (32 NATO and 25 more) allies of Ukraine, who recently concluded their twenty-fourth meeting, on September 6, 2024, to address neutralizing and degrading the Russian Armed Forces in Ukraine, with the end state of said forces being incapable of conduct military operations at the operational and strategic level, emphasizing they will meet Ukraine’s immediate needs as well as those for the long haul. The UDCG has established eight capability coalitions that have been established:
- Air Force
- Air Defense
- Artillery
- Maritime Security
- Armor
- Information Technology
- De-mining
- Drones
And so for each of these, you have two, or sometimes three allies and partners that are standing up to lead, committing to lead and organize efforts to build this capability area of Ukraine’s force. A new addition in this contact group meeting is the capability coalition leadership group. That meeting discussed progress and looked to coordinate the way ahead for cross-cutting issues, the secretary said.
Leading this group is: Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland and the United Kingdom. “They all stepped up to lead the capability coalitions and to commit resources and personnel to this critical task,” Austin said. “And their leadership is a testament to the unity and resolve and our insight today.”
There are over 30 UDCG countries that have already committed to one or more capability coalition either in a leadership role or in a participation role, and some of the leaders of these coalitions include Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway and the United Kingdom, and the United States.
2024 Talking Point 3
Preamble: it is the legacy of the Ukrainian American Veterans to serve in the defense of the United States of America and our ancestral land, Ukraine.
Be it resolved – that the Ukrainian American Veterans have served in the United States Armed Forces in every armed conflict since the Civil War, and those of us still serving, or with the benefit of their service, pledge to honor that legacy by encouraging Ukrainians, and their allies, both here, and throughout the world, to support that same battle for freedom and our inherent rights AS LONG AS IT TAKES!
2024 Talking Point 4
Preamble: the battle to regain Ukraine’s sovereignty and freedom will require support from those fighting in the trenches, their leadership, and Ukrainians around the world
Be it resolved – the actions of President Zelensky, in a reinvigorated pursuit of eradication of corruption, and change of leadership, has shown a renewed resoluteness for Ukraine, engendering additional military support in the form of frontline armor, and training to NATO standards, which will serve the cause of freedom for Ukraine
2024 Talking Point 5
Preamble: in assessing the tactical, operational, and strategic capabilities of Ukraine, continued, robust support will be essential;
Be it resolved, the current military training, both technical and tactical, being conducted by the United States, which has the Security Assistance Group-Ukraine (SAG-U) in charge, United Kingdom, Canada, Poland, and other allies (Ukraine Defense Contact Group has 57 members), has created a frontline Ukrainian mechanized force, equipped with NATO frontline equipment, now conducting a counteroffensive to retake and secure the Ukrainian territory and its freedom-loving people, and prevent any future incursions. 500 Ukrainian troops recently arrived in Grafenwoehr, Germany. On Friday, January 5, 2024, the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team from the Mississippi Army National Guard took command of the Joint Multinational Training Group-Ukraine (JMTG-U) mission in Germany. The Mississippi Guard soldiers replaced the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team from the Arkansas National Guard, which has been responsible for mentoring Ukrainian forces for the past nine months. The 39th oversaw the training of about 7,500 troops during their deployment, which included instruction on a variety of weapons systems now being used on the frontlines. Over 150 Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team were honored during a deployment ceremony at Strickler Field on Aug. 21, 2024, to support the next training rotation.
Source – Stars and Stripes: Pennsylvania Soldiers Head to Europe for Training Mission (August 22, 2024)
2024 Talking Point 6
Preamble – modern warfare is dynamic, constantly evolving and adjusting to current conditions, with Ukraine leading in developing effective future forces.
Be it resolved- the dynamism and adaptation of current doctrine by developing new tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP) places Ukraine in a superior position during the long-war phase of the current crisis, the Russian incursion on February 24, 2022, as well as the invasion of Crimea and Luhansk and Donetsk Regions of Donbas, almost nine years ago. The Ukrainian leadership, civilian and military, has adapted and will overcome all adversity to triumph and restore sovereignty and freedom not just for Ukraine, as the eastern bulwark of freedom, for the entire European federation.
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Her Heroes!
Ukrainian American Veterans
Michael P. Hrycak
Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Army, Retired
UAV National Commander