1. Ukraine’s defense
Reliable U.S. military assistance, intelligence sharing, and communications support are essential to Ukraine’s defense.
Will you support U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine?
An American Ukrainian civic organization · Est. 1946
Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine
ODFFU defends Ukraine's sovereignty and democratic survival, educates the American public, mobilizes Ukrainian Americans, and supports practical service to people affected by Russia's war.
Election 2026 · Take action
Ask your representatives where they stand on Ukraine.
Explore five key issues, choose your questions, and build a personal message for your representative or senators.
2. Sanctions on Russia
Strong sanctions and enforcement help limit Russia’s ability to finance its war of aggression.
Will you support stronger sanctions and oppose measures that increase Russian war revenue?
3. Ukrainian children
Returning Ukrainian children deported or forcibly transferred by Russia, and holding those responsible accountable, requires sustained international pressure.
What will you do to help return Ukraine’s stolen children and hold those responsible accountable?
4. TPS for Ukrainians
Continued protections provide stability for Ukrainians in the United States who cannot safely return home because of the war.
Will you support continued protections for Ukrainians who cannot safely return home?
5. Russian disinformation
Russian propaganda, cyber activity, and influence operations target Americans and democratic institutions.
What steps will you support to counter Russian disinformation and influence operations in the United States?
Questions adapted from the Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS), “Elections 2026 Questionnaire.”
ODFFU | National statement
ODFFU Condemns Trump Administration Decision to Ease Russian Diesel Sanctions
The Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine (ODFFU) condemns the Trump administration’s decision to authorize Russian diesel sales to American and global markets. At a time when the United States should be increasing economic pressure on Moscow, Washington is instead providing the Kremlin with new commercial opportunities.
On October 9, the U.S. Treasury issued General License 135, authorizing specified Russian diesel transactions for six months. The proposed arrangement could involve up to 4.8 million metric tons of fuel. This comes barely three weeks after President Trump signed the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act, legislation intended to strengthen economic pressure on Russia. The contradiction is unmistakable.
Russian energy revenues help finance the military machine that continues to bombard Ukrainian cities, destroy hospitals, schools, and homes, forcibly deport children, and devastate civilian infrastructure. Moscow also conducts sabotage, cyberattacks, and hybrid operations against NATO allies, while its military cooperation with Iran threatens American personnel and interests. Providing additional revenue to a government engaged in these activities raises serious American national security concerns.
The administration claims Russian diesel will lower fuel prices, although analysts question whether Americans will receive meaningful relief. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized the decision, noting that sanctions relief could have been considered in exchange for ending Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. No equivalent Russian commitment has been publicly established. What has Washington obtained in return?
Adding to these concerns is President Trump’s invitation to Vladimir Putin to attend the December G20 summit in Florida. Putin remains subject to an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes involving the unlawful deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children. Diplomatic engagement must deliver verifiable results, not political rehabilitation without accountability.
ODFFU calls upon the administration and Congress to suspend and review General License 135, disclose the arrangement’s financial beneficiaries and any concessions obtained from Moscow, and enforce existing sanctions legislation. The United States must sustain military assistance to Ukraine and uphold its sovereignty and internationally recognized borders.
For generations, ODFFU has defended Ukrainian independence against Russian imperial domination. Rewarding aggression without accountability will not secure lasting peace. America must stand by the principles of sovereignty, freedom, and international law that underpin its own security.
What has Russia received, and what has Russia surrendered in return?
Organization for the Defense of Four Freedoms for Ukraine (ODFFU)
Read the original statement (PDF)Your voice. Your vote.
Get ready for the 2026 midterms
Election Day is Tuesday,
All 435 U.S. House seats and 35 Senate seats are contested.
Voter registration, early voting, mail voting and identification rules vary by state.
Register / check your status
Register or verify your voter registration. Update your address.
Meet the candidates
Meet Senate, House and key state/local candidates. Ask where they stand on Ukraine.
Know the issues
Ukraine’s defense • Sanctions on Russia • Sovereignty & territorial integrity • War-crimes accountability • Support for Ukrainians in the U.S.
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Source: Ukrainian National Information Service (UNIS)
@UNISdirect · @ucca_org · Facebook, Instagram and X
80
Years
Defending Ukraine's freedom since 1946
4
Freedoms
Freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear
32
National Conventions
Generations of organized Ukrainian American civic leadership
1
Enduring Mission
A free, independent, democratic, and secure Ukraine
ODFFU was founded in New York City on October 27, 1946. Its name connects Ukraine's cause to President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Four Freedoms.
Freedom of Speech
Public education, historical truth, free media, and opposition to Russian disinformation.
Freedom of Worship
Defense of religious liberty, cultural continuity, and communities threatened by Russian occupation.
Freedom from Want
Humanitarian, medical, rehabilitation, and displacement assistance.
Freedom from Fear
Ukraine's national defense, protection of civilians, and strong American policy against Russian aggression.
Ukraine & U.S. policy updates
External News
Germany announces air defense and energy support for Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-10-04
Germany announced a support package worth more than €1.3 billion during Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to Kyiv. It includes military assistance for interceptor drones and IRIS-T air defenses, alongside energy support for generators and infrastructure repairs ahead of winter.
Read at sourcePhoto: Kay Nietfeld / picture alliance via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent
United States Policy Update
U.S. proposes Ukraine–Russia talks before the end of October
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-10-04
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Washington is proposing technical-level talks with Ukraine and Russia before the end of October. Kyiv is willing to participate, but the venue and Russia's response remain unresolved. Possible topics include an energy ceasefire and Black Sea shipping.
Read at sourcePhoto: Benjamin Girette / Bloomberg via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent
United States Policy Update
U.S.–Ukraine investment fund announces its first minerals deal
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-10-03
The joint U.S.–Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund unveiled a minerals partnership with BGV Group Management and new energy investments. The minerals platform will initially explore rare earths, beryllium, and zirconium, while the energy projects aim to strengthen electricity storage and community power supplies.
Read at sourcePhoto: Yulia Svyrydenko / X, via The Kyiv Independent
External News
Ukraine sanctions 44 people linked to Russian-run elections in occupied territory
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-27
President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted sanctions on September 26 against 44 people involved in Russian-organized parliamentary elections in occupied Ukrainian territory, The Kyiv Independent reports. Ukraine rejects the vote's legal validity and plans to share details of the sanctioned individuals with international partners to support coordinated measures. The EU has also said it will not recognize the elections or their results in occupied territory.
Read at sourceUnited States Policy Update
U.S. moves to commit $400 million in Ukraine aid before fiscal-year deadline
Babel, citing Reuters · 2026-09-26
Reuters reporting summarized by Babel says the U.S. administration had committed $307 million of a $400 million Ukraine assistance allocation and planned to commit the remaining $93 million by September 30. Initial deliveries began in September, but the reported package excludes Patriot interceptor missiles. The deadline concerns placing funds under contract, not delivering all equipment or spending the entire allocation by that date.
Read at source
United States Policy Update
Zelensky says Trump approved Patriot missile production licenses for Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-25
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Donald Trump confirmed a decision to grant Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles during their September 22 meeting in New York. Domestic production could help address shortages of air defense interceptors. The Kyiv Independent reports that no production timetable or capacity was announced and the White House had not commented, leaving implementation details unresolved.
Read at sourcePhoto: Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent
External News
EU agrees to release 6.6 billion euros for Ukraine military support
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-25
EU countries agreed on terms to unlock 6.6 billion euros through the European Peace Facility, according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. The package allocates 4.7 billion euros to reimburse earlier weapons deliveries, 900 million euros for training, and one billion euros for joint equipment purchases. The Kyiv Independent reports that some governments plan to redirect reimbursements into further assistance, so the total should not be read as entirely new weapons funding.
Read at sourcePhoto: Petras Malukas / AFP via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent
United States Policy Update
U.S. earmarks $27 million to help return abducted Ukrainian children
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-25
The State Department announced funding to help identify, return, and reintegrate Ukrainian children taken to Russia or held in occupied territories. The Kyiv Independent reports that a $12 million grant is being processed, with another $15 million authorized for an implementing organization later this year. The September 24 announcement supports recovery and rehabilitation efforts; it does not mean all funds have already been disbursed.
Read at sourcePhoto: Saul Loeb / AFP via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent
External News
EU approves nearly 3 billion euros in Ukraine budget and reform support
Council of the European Union · 2026-09-24
The EU Council approved the eighth regular Ukraine Facility payment after Ukraine completed ten additional reform milestones. The nearly 3 billion euro payment includes almost 800 million euros from the Ukraine Support Loan and supports public administration, recovery, and economic stability. The Council also incorporated Norway's approximately 92 million euro grant contribution into the Ukraine Plan. The announcement approves the payment; it does not confirm the funds have arrived.
Read at source
United States Policy Update
Kremlin calls for an end to U.S. support for Ukraine as talks resume
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-09
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov called on Washington to end assistance to Ukraine following the September 8 Trump-Putin phone call. His demand comes as U.S. envoys seek to restart trilateral negotiations. The Kyiv Independent reports that allied purchases of U.S. weapons and U.S. intelligence sharing continue. Ukraine is seeking a ceasefire and security guarantees; the Russian demand does not itself establish a change in U.S. policy.
Read at sourcePhoto: Alexander Kazakov / AFP via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent (file photo)
External News
EU court dismisses Hungarian challenge to Ukraine military aid
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-09
An EU court dismissed a challenge brought under Hungary's former government against using proceeds from frozen Russian assets for military assistance to Ukraine through the European Peace Facility. The court found that the disputed foreign and security policy decision fell outside its jurisdiction. The Kyiv Independent reports that a separate dispute over reimbursements to countries supplying Ukraine remains unresolved.
Read at sourcePhoto: Daniel Karmann / picture alliance via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent (file photo)
External News
EU lawmakers press for frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-09
An open letter signed by 122 members of the European Parliament urges EU leaders to use about 200 billion euros in immobilized Russian assets to support Ukraine. The lawmakers propose sharing legal risks through an EU custodian, addressing concerns in Belgium, where most of the assets are held. The Kyiv Independent reports that a fully developed legal proposal is still pending; the letter is a call for action, not an approved funding measure.
Read at sourcePhoto: Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent
External News
Ukraine prepares contracts for about 1,000 Patriot missiles with allied funding
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-08
Ukraine's defense minister said Kyiv is preparing contracts for roughly 1,000 Patriot missiles with partner support and EU loan funding. Because deliveries will take time, he urged allies to provide interceptors from existing stocks before winter. The report says a related EU financing package would permit purchases of U.S.-made PAC-3 interceptors, with final approval still pending.
Read at sourcePhoto: Karl-Josef Hildenbrand / Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent (file photo)
United States Policy Update
Trump and Putin speak after U.S. envoys visit Moscow and Kyiv
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-08
The Kremlin reported a September 8 phone call between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin following visits by U.S. peace envoys to Russia and Ukraine. The Kyiv Independent reports that the weekend negotiations produced no breakthrough. Washington is pursuing another round of trilateral talks, while Ukraine continues to seek a ceasefire and Western-backed security guarantees.
Read at sourcePhoto: Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent (file photo)
United States Policy Update
Zelensky cautiously welcomes U.S. peace proposals and seeks missile support
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-09-08
President Volodymyr Zelensky said proposals from U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner merit consideration, but their feasibility remains uncertain. Energy infrastructure and grain shipping could be part of negotiations. He hopes to meet President Donald Trump around September 20 to discuss additional anti-ballistic missiles. The report says Russia has not agreed to a proposed pause in aerial attacks.
Read at sourcePhoto: Danylo Antoniuk / Ukrinform / NurPhoto via Getty Images, via The Kyiv Independent
United States Policy Update
U.S. envoys discuss peace and air defense support in Kyiv
Associated Press · 2026-09-06
U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv after talks with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Discussions covered Patriot air defenses, winter energy support and security guarantees, with European advisers joining a later session. AP reported no breakthrough toward ending the war, although the participants planned further talks.
Read at sourcePhoto: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office / AP, via Local 10
United States Policy Update
Trump seeks European reimbursement for past Ukraine aid
Reuters (via MarketScreener) · 2026-09-03
President Donald Trump said he would seek European reimbursement for earlier U.S. assistance to Ukraine. Reuters reported that his remarks also suggested a pause in weapons sales to allies while the United States rebuilds its stockpiles. The report places those comments alongside PURL, the initiative through which European countries finance U.S. weapons for Ukraine.
Read at sourcePhoto: Reuters, via MarketScreener (file photo)
United States Policy Update
Russia sanctions bill faces uncertain House path after Senate passage
Associated Press (via Local 10) · 2026-08-27
AP examines how Zelenskyy's appeal to U.S. lawmakers helped advance legislation targeting Russia's energy revenues. The Senate passed the measure 86-11, but the report describes uncertainty in the House and objections to the broad tariff powers it would give the president. The proposal aims to pressure countries that continue purchasing Russian oil and gas.
Read at sourcePhoto: Allison Robbert / AP, via Local 10
United States Policy Update
U.S., Ukraine sign deal for Kyiv to export drones to America for military testing
The Washington Times · 2026-07-22
The Pentagon and Ukraine agreed to a partnership under which Ukraine will export combat-proven drones to the United States for military testing, part of the U.S. "drone dominance" initiative to acquire 200,000 drones by 2027. The deal deepens U.S.–Ukraine defense-industrial ties at a moment when Ukraine's drone sector leads the field.
Read at sourcePhoto: АрміяInform / Armed Forces of Ukraine (CC BY 4.0)
External News
Ukraine pleads for Patriot missile interceptors after latest deadly Russian attack on Kyiv
The Washington Times · 2026-07-19
After one of Russia's largest ballistic-missile attacks on Kyiv, President Zelenskyy renewed appeals for U.S.-made Patriot interceptors as Ukraine's stocks run low. Air-defense supply remains the most immediate test of American support for Ukraine's cities.
Read at source
External News
Trump grants Kyiv Patriots licences: What's next in the Russia-Ukraine war?
Al Jazeera · 2026-07-10
The United States offered Ukraine licences to manufacture Patriot interceptors domestically. Local production could ease Ukraine's dependence on scarce U.S. deliveries for the air defenses protecting its civilians and infrastructure.
Read at source
United States Policy Update
US Senate committee approves $500M in military aid for Ukraine in 2026
Militarnyi · 2026-07-09
The Senate Armed Services Committee passed its draft National Defense Authorization Act 26–1, raising Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding from $300 million to $500 million and extending the program through 2028. The House version keeps funding at $300 million, so the final figure heads to negotiation — a key advocacy window.
Read at source
United States Policy Update
US State Department approves $373.6 million weapons sale to Ukraine
The Kyiv Independent · 2026-05-05
The State Department approved a $373.6 million sale of extended-range JDAM precision munitions and support services to Ukraine, shortly after a separate $400 million Pentagon aid package — a signal that arms transfers continue through the foreign military sales channel.
Read at source