Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, Andriy Plakhotniuk, Visits the University of Alberta

The Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) was honoured to welcome the Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada, Andriy Plakhotniuk, on his first official visit to the University of Alberta.

Hosted in the historic Old Arts Senate Chamber, the meeting brought together Ambassador Plakhotniuk and members of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission — Yulia Ni, Minister-Counsellor for Economic Affairs; Roman Strashevskyi, First Secretary; and Marianna Kulava, First Secretary — with representatives of CIUS and the University of Alberta.

The discussion highlighted the longstanding connections between the University of Alberta, Ukraine, and the global field of Ukrainian Studies. Ambassador Plakhotniuk emphasized the importance of Canada–Ukraine collaboration during a time of profound uncertainty and reflected on the vital role academic institutions play in defending truth, history, and democratic values.

Participants also discussed the university’s support for Ukrainian students and scholars displaced by Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, as well as CIUS’s ongoing scholarly and educational initiatives that strengthen Ukraine’s sovereignty and global understanding of its history.

“𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵 50 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘜𝘬𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦 — 𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘸.”

- Andriy Plakhotniuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada

Ambassador Plakhotniuk also expressed appreciation for CIUS’s work and noted his intention to return later this year for the institute’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

Photo credits: Steven Brese