Ukraine is present across the globe through its diplomatic missions and the people who carry its culture, values, and identity. That is why it is essential for the civil society sector and diplomatic institutions to maintain strong ties and foster an unbreakable partnership.
This summer, a meeting took place between Vita Mykhailova Yuksel, head of the NGO “Ukrainian Family,” Kateryna Samoylyk, head of the representative office of Business Woman magazine in Turkey, and Bogdan Konopliastyi, Consul General of Ukraine in Antalya.
It offered an opportunity to discuss how Ukraine’s presence abroad is taking shape today and why preserving ties with the homeland is a crucial task for both the state and the community. For every Ukrainian living abroad, state institutions primarily provide the ability to obtain necessary documents, seek assistance in difficult situations, receive official information, and feel that the connection to Ukraine remains intact across borders.
This connection took on exceptional weight following the outbreak of the full-scale war. Millions of Ukrainians found themselves outside the country, presenting the state with a new, large-scale challenge: to stand by its citizens, support them, and simultaneously preserve a vital bond between Ukrainians and Ukraine.
In this context, diplomacy extends far beyond traditional protocol. Modern diplomacy encompasses more than intergovernmental negotiations; it involves culture, education, media, business, civic initiatives, and personal ties. Together, they shape what the world calls soft power. Ukrainians abroad are an integral part of this force. They launch businesses, develop cultural initiatives, work in international companies, study, represent Ukraine in professional settings, and introduce societies around the world to modern Ukraine.
In Antalya, this connection is particularly strong and evident. Non-governmental organizations understand the needs of Ukrainians, carry out humanitarian, social, and cultural projects, assist newcomers with integration, and foster a welcoming, supportive environment. Diplomatic missions provide an official link to the state, back initiatives and events, and facilitate diplomatic engagement with local authorities. This collaboration creates a significant synergy.
Ukraine’s cultural and informational presence held a prominent place in the discussion. Through art, traditions, and personal stories of fellow citizens, Ukraine presents itself to the world as a vibrant nation with a profound culture and resilient people. In this regard, Ukrainian media abroad play a vital role. Kateryna Samoylyk presented the Consul General of Ukraine in Antalya with an issue of Business Woman magazine featuring an extensive interview with Gayana Yuksel—a member of the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People, a Ukrainian Doctor of Sciences in Social Communications, and head of the Şefiqa Gaspıralı International Women’s Union in Turkey. The bilingual international glossy frequently publishes pieces covering civil society, business, politics, and the volunteer movement working toward peace in Ukraine and worldwide. Ukrainian voices resonate clearly beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Today, Ukrainians worldwide share a critical mission: to prevent physical distance from turning into a divide. Ukraine abroad is made up of Ukrainian families, civic organizations, entrepreneurs, artists, volunteers, educators, and everyone who continues to speak up for Ukraine, work on its behalf, and represent it on the global stage. The state sustains this link through its diplomatic missions; the community sustains it through daily social initiatives; and the media sustains it through the voice and image of Ukraine. True diplomacy emerges where trust is built, and a nation’s strength abroad is reflected in its citizens’ enduring certainty that Ukraine is always near.
Author: Kateryna Samoylyk
Photo: from the archive of Kateryna Samoylyk