Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze on a Working Visit to the United States — Strengthening Support for Ukraine Discussed in Chicago
26 January 2026, 09:42
The Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Ukraine’s Integration into the EU, Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, together with colleagues from the parliamentary network United4Ukraine, held a series of meetings in Chicago aimed at strengthening support for Ukraine.
“For several days that we worked with colleagues in Chicago, the temperature in the city stood at -21°C. This made it easier to explain at every meeting and in every audience what Ukrainians are going through when, in such freezing conditions, the enemy deprives us of electricity, heating, and water,” the Chair said.
According to her, Russia’s war and genocidal attacks — despite what is being described as a ‘negotiation process’ — are not making front-page headlines in the United States. Therefore, together with colleagues from United4Ukraine, they used every opportunity to draw attention to the realities of the war in Ukraine during public discussions and meetings at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the University of Chicago; with representatives of the Ukrainian, Lithuanian, and Polish communities; as well as with media representatives and business leaders.
During a meeting with Senator Dick Durbin, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, the delegation discussed bilateral security guarantees. As it turned out, discussions on this issue are unfortunately not taking place in the U.S. Senate — which would be required to ratify any serious agreement — despite public statements suggesting that such guarantees are already prepared.
“At all meetings, together with colleagues from the U4U network, we explained why it is in the U.S. interest to achieve Russia’s strategic defeat and, based on that, the critical need to increase U.S. pressure on Russia and expand military assistance to Ukraine. We also spoke about how European states have increased their support for Ukraine and responded to numerous questions about the internal situation in Ukraine — from mobilization to the reform agenda and the feasibility of its implementation,” Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted.
During the advocacy visit, the delegation also appealed to the Mayor of Chicago — a sister city of Kyiv — for additional support for the Ukrainian capital during this extremely challenging time. “I know that our Consulate General will continue to work out the details with the city administration. I am grateful to my fellow parliamentarians from European countries for their joint efforts toward Ukraine’s success and victory,” the Chair concluded.
“For several days that we worked with colleagues in Chicago, the temperature in the city stood at -21°C. This made it easier to explain at every meeting and in every audience what Ukrainians are going through when, in such freezing conditions, the enemy deprives us of electricity, heating, and water,” the Chair said.
According to her, Russia’s war and genocidal attacks — despite what is being described as a ‘negotiation process’ — are not making front-page headlines in the United States. Therefore, together with colleagues from United4Ukraine, they used every opportunity to draw attention to the realities of the war in Ukraine during public discussions and meetings at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the University of Chicago; with representatives of the Ukrainian, Lithuanian, and Polish communities; as well as with media representatives and business leaders.
During a meeting with Senator Dick Durbin, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, the delegation discussed bilateral security guarantees. As it turned out, discussions on this issue are unfortunately not taking place in the U.S. Senate — which would be required to ratify any serious agreement — despite public statements suggesting that such guarantees are already prepared.
“At all meetings, together with colleagues from the U4U network, we explained why it is in the U.S. interest to achieve Russia’s strategic defeat and, based on that, the critical need to increase U.S. pressure on Russia and expand military assistance to Ukraine. We also spoke about how European states have increased their support for Ukraine and responded to numerous questions about the internal situation in Ukraine — from mobilization to the reform agenda and the feasibility of its implementation,” Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze noted.
During the advocacy visit, the delegation also appealed to the Mayor of Chicago — a sister city of Kyiv — for additional support for the Ukrainian capital during this extremely challenging time. “I know that our Consulate General will continue to work out the details with the city administration. I am grateful to my fellow parliamentarians from European countries for their joint efforts toward Ukraine’s success and victory,” the Chair concluded.