Ukraine Action Summit FAQ

Q: What is the American Coalition for Ukraine (ACU)?

The American Coalition for Ukraine is an alliance of over 100 U.S.-based organizations that have joined their efforts and resources to support Ukraine in its defense of the universal values of freedom and human dignity, recognizing that a strong and sovereign Ukraine is vital to U.S. national security and global stability. Coalition partners call the United States home, but many of us share historical experiences of oppression, violence, and war in our countries of origin and ancestral homelands—often at the hands of Russian and Soviet imperialism.

The Ukraine Action Summit is a multi-day event that brings together constituents from across the United States to Washington, D.C., to meet with their congressional representatives and advocate for Ukraine. Policy priorities are carefully determined by the American Coalition for Ukraine. Delegates’ time on Capitol Hill is supplemented by advocacy training & networking opportunities. To learn more about the previous five Summits (2022-2024) visit, https://americancoalitionforukraine.org/ukraine-action-summit/.

You don’t have to be a Ukrainian or have any connection to Ukraine. Any resident of the United States who is willing to stand in solidarity behind an unequivocal victory and lasting security for Ukraine is welcome to attend the Summit.

All U.S. constituents are invited to attend the UAS. Constituents are organized into delegations based on their state of residence. Each delegation has one or more leaders, depending on its size.

Delegation leaders are experienced advocates who have volunteered their time to take on a leadership role at the Summit. They are the ones who organize your congressional meetings and are your resource for advocacy-related questions before, during, and after the Summit.

All attendees are required to register in advance. There are no at-the-door registrations, and nobody can be admitted to the Summit without prior registration. Everyone needs a name tag that is printed based on registration information. 

During the Summit, you will meet with your representatives and other delegates from your state, as well as attend trainings, panel discussions, and other information sessions with delegates from across the country. Registration is imperative for planning purposes, for granting you access to the preparatory activities before the event, for fire code capacity purposes, and for security purposes as we schedule delegates for congressional meetings.

When you register for the Summit, you are agreeing to abide by the Code of Conduct.

Your registration payment helps cover the costs of the food and venue rental for networking events, as well as the production and operational costs associated with organizing the Summit.

Registration sponsorship is extremely limited and is allocated for delegates in districts that the Coalition has identified as critical to our mission.

Members of organizations sponsoring the Summit can receive free tickets. If you belong to a sponsoring organization, please reach out to the organization’s leadership for the discount code. If your organization is interested in becoming a Summit sponsor, please contact sponsor@americancoalitionforukraine.org.

Discounted tickets are available to ACU member organizations. If you belong to an ACU member organization, please reach out to the organization’s leadership for the discount code. If your organization is interested in becoming an ACU member, please visit our membership page and fill out the required form.

Veterans can receive free tickets. A copy of your veteran ID may be requested for verification purposes.

Discounted tickets are available to students*. A copy of your student ID may be requested for verification purposes.

• All full- or part-time students at an educational institution—including those at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels—whether attending in person or remotely, as well as Fulbright Program participants, qualify for the discount. However, professional classes and courses taken for career development or job hunting do not qualify for student discounts.

Each Summit has a deadline by which the organizing team can issue a full refund. Please visit the current Summit registration page for details.

For Ukraine Action Summit, Spring 2025:

Full refunds will be available for cancellations made until March 13, 2025.

We kindly request that you do not register and not show up, as it potentially creates problems with scheduling meetings with congressional offices. Most offices require a constituent’s presence at a meeting, as well as a list of attendees for the meeting to be submitted in advance. The scheduling process is based on who has registered for the Summit. If you have registered and are not able to attend, please notify your delegation leader as soon as possible. If you are not sure who your delegation leader is, contact us at summit@americancoalitionforukraine.org.

Travel sponsorship, when available, is allocated for delegates who require financial assistance in districts that the Coalition has identified as critical to our mission. However, travel sponsorship is currently not available. If limited amounts become available for travel grants, they will be provided as a reimbursement for up to $500 or the price of the ticket, whichever amount is lower. Delegates who are offered travel sponsorship will be expected to buy their own tickets and submit a copy of the receipt to the Coalition for reimbursement after the Summit. Contact summit@americancoalitionforukraine.org for more information.

Discounted housing may be available in a university dormitory. Space is limited, and priority will be given to delegates from critical districts who require discounted housing. Remaining beds will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Make sure to check the appropriate checkbox when filling out your registration form to indicate you are interested in discounted housing.

After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with additional information about the Ukraine Action Summit. It will include an email address to ask questions you might have, as well as information about online training (required for first-time delegates). Your state delegation leader will reach out to you shortly afterwards to connect you with other delegates from your state and begin networking and planning. Please keep checking and reading emails from the Coalition and your delegation leader that will include more information as the Summit time approaches.

Please note that the American Coalition for Ukraine reserves the right to revoke attendance and/or cancel registration at our sole discretion and/or if the code of conduct is violated.

Congressional meetings will take place on Capitol Hill. Group events during the Ukraine Action Summit usually are held in the vicinity of Capitol Hill, with some exceptions for special events. Additional information on venues will be provided via email to registrants. Please keep an eye on your inbox shortly after registration closes!

Yes, please feel free to begin to book your flights and accommodations once you have registered and received confirmation of your registration from the Coalition. The Coalition is negotiating discounted prices and group rates for the Summit attendees at some of the DC area hotels; information will be published on the Summit webpage as it becomes available. A general list of accommodations in the Capitol Hill area is also available here: americancoalitionforukraine.org/ukraine-action-summit/hotels-and-accommodations.

We strongly encourage you to stay for the entire Summit. If you know that you will not be able to attend the full Summit, please reach out to your delegation leader or our team at summit@americancoalitionforukraine.org as soon as possible. For more details please check the Summit current schedule.

For Ukraine Action Summit, Spring 2025 the plan is following:

Required training starts early on Monday morning. The Sunday evening networking event and check-in are optional, but if at all possible, please try to attend it and check in then so that Monday morning activities can start on time. Training will continue for the whole day Monday and will include your state delegation break-out session.

Tuesday and Wednesday are designated congressional meeting days. Individual schedules for these meetings vary and may not be available in advance, as offices may confirm or change appointment times on short notice. Your delegation leader may ask the group to stay together during breaks in order to prepare for the next meeting or be ready for an unexpected schedule change. If you have unavoidable personal commitments on Tuesday or Wednesday, discuss them with your delegation leader as soon as possible.

Typical congressional office hours end at 5 PM, so most meetings are done by then. Rarely, but we have had cases when a member of Congress or their staff is busy all day and is willing to stay later and see the delegation after 5. Also, you might want to unwind with your fellow delegates at a “Happy Hour” event on Wednesday evening. If your circumstances allow it, schedule your return trip late Wednesday night or Thursday morning.

The Ukraine Action Summit is scheduled around the availability of congressional representatives. They often travel from their districts on Mondays, and their availability is concentrated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

You do not need any prior advocacy experience before attending the Ukraine Action Summit. Regardless of your previous advocacy experience, you are required to take online training if you are coming to the Ukraine Action Summit for the first time. Additional training will be provided on Monday, and your delegation leader will help prepare you on the specific policy positions of your representatives and your meetings with them.

You will not meet your representative alone. Any advocacy meetings will happen with the support of your delegation leader and other delegates.

Your delegation leader will be reaching out to congressional offices on your behalf to put together a schedule of meetings for you and the rest of your state delegation. However, if you have a close connection with any offices and wish to assist with this, please ask your delegation leader if this would be helpful. If you are not sure who your delegation leader is, please email us at summit@americancoalitionforukraine.org. Unless by prior agreement with your delegation leader, please do not reach out to your Representative or Senator regarding Summit meetings.

House offices tend to be smaller, and attendance at meetings with House offices is usually limited to 4-6 people. Constituents and other people who have specific connections with an office will be given preference to attend House meetings. Senate offices tend to be larger and have more delegates.

The state delegation leaders will decide who attends which meetings. Delegation leaders will attempt to distribute the opportunity to attend meetings as much as possible, but unless your state has a very small delegation, you will not be able to attend all the meetings. Typically, you should expect to have a total of three meetings (2 Senators and 1 Representative).

Start with going to the KLYCH community portal and taking online training courses. You’ll find links to KLYCH in your registration confirmation email. 

The same email will point you to the Summit WhatsApp chat where you’ll join other people who registered for the Summit and where information will be posted about additional Q&A Zoom sessions for delegates. 

Lastly, your delegation leader will reach out to you to connect you with fellow delegates from your state, who will work together to prepare for the Summit. Please keep an eye out for emails from your delegation leader and respond promptly.

For the days when you have congressional meetings, please follow a business-style dress code. Vyshyvanka and a business suit are an acceptable combination. 

Do not wear sneakers or sandals, but make sure your shoes are comfortable; you can expect quite a lot of walking.

For networking events, the rules are more relaxed, and a business casual style is welcome.

If you are still unsure of what clothing to pack, look at the numerous photographs from previous summits on the Coalition’s website and social media pages.

Any individual under the age of 18 is considered a child.

Bringing small children into congressional meetings is not encouraged.

High schoolers and, in some cases, middle schoolers could be allowed to participate, but only in coordination and with permission of the delegation leader.

If a child is allowed to participate in congressional meetings, they must undergo online training and be present during in-person training. They also must be separately registered and receive a name tag.

A child must be accompanied by an adult at all time. Parent or a guardian bears full responsibility for the child at all time.

Ukraine Action Summit is designed to provide an opportunity to U.S. constituents to meet with their elected officials and advocate for Ukraine. Residents and citizens of other countries may participate in UAS only based on special invitation from the organizing committee.