The "35 Years of Faith and Freedom" international forum gathered conservative US political leaders, as well as heads of global Christian alliances and missions, in Kyiv, including 48th US Vice President Mike Pence, General Keith Kellogg, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, and US lawmakers.
As an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reports, Pavlo Unguryan, coordinator of the Prayer Breakfast movement, informed media on the sidelines of the event about the coordination of the "Forum of Conservative Forces of Ukraine" dedicated to the 35th anniversary of independence.
"Today, here, we have an incredible number of powerful friends of Ukraine. This includes General Keith Kellogg, Senators James Lankford and Richard Blumenthal, Congressmen McEwen and Slattery, 48th US Vice President Mike Pence, and Tony Perkins, who is a spiritual mentor to US House Speaker Mike Johnson and was one of the closest friends of Lindsey Graham. These are the people who have been working behind the scenes for years. They work in the background, but they shape the positions," he said.
According to the coordinator, the forum’s discussions focused on three main topics: national security, the economy, and principles of faith, which he named as the main platforms of modern Republicanism.
"First is national security and defense as the foundation of a society fighting on principles of patriotism and a strong, powerful national army. Second is the free market, economy, and community development so that we are internally strong and able to compete in the outside world. But both the first and second — security and economy — can be successful only if they are based on eternal principles and values that have stood the test of centuries. These are principles of faith, family, birth rates, patriotism, child-rearing, education, and science. These are the values that build the individual and create the community," Unguryan said.
The coordinator noted that "conservative values have already helped many countries, such as Israel, South Korea, and post- the Second World War Germany, build strong states, economies, and societies".
"We are convinced that Ukraine can follow this same path and show an example of leadership in the 21st century," Unguryan stated, adding that "the practical implementation of the discussion will consist in developing specific policies across these areas".
According to Unguryan, approximately five key Washington-based think tanks were present at the event, along with representatives from the United Kingdom, Europe, and delegations from Israel.
"This helps shape and advocate Ukraine’s urgent needs here and now, while establishing a strategy for the future," the coordinator emphasized.
Furthermore, he announced the opening of the first Conservative Think Tank of Faith and Freedom ("Faith and Freedom Center").
"...Today, the Faith and Freedom Center think tank has been established and just opened. This is Ukraine’s first conservative think tank, which will base its work on developing policies and concrete governance solutions for the state, local communities, society, business, and all spheres of society, because together we build a republic," Unguryan noted.
He emphasized readiness to work with central government bodies, local communities, youth, scholars, the military, and veterans on these developments.
"And, unequivocally, this will be a major space for work with our international partners. After all, our movement has for several decades communicated and built bridges with similar patriotic Republican groups in Europe, the US, Canada, Latin America, South Korea, Israel, and Australia," Unguryan concluded.
Organizers noted that the event brought together over 1,000 participants, including delegations from global churches and international organizations from more than 50 countries.
