An international affairs student organization is launching a working group this month for students to develop policy proposals for Ukrainian government officials.
The Alexander Hamilton Society at GW’s Ukraine Working Group, which is set to run from January to late March, will consist of a group of about 10 to 20 students who are passionate about international affairs and interested in Ukrainian policy and the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. Senior Oleksandra Pashkina, the project’s leader, said students will participate in self-guided discussions focused on economy and security policies for a post-war Ukraine.
“No matter where I am, I’m trying to do something for my country,” Pashkina said. “And so that probably was the main reason I wanted to make American students learn a bit more about this.”
Pashkina, a Ukrainian and an exchange student from a French university, said the group will host meetings every week and learn from experts in Ukrainian policy recommended to her from AHS’ national branch. She said the group will also visit the Embassy of Ukraine in D.C. sometime during the group’s time together to ask diplomats questions about Ukraine and U.S. relations.
She said she hopes the group will also participate in a two-day conference at the Elliott School of International Affairs on Ukraine security policy in February.
Russia and Ukraine have faced decades of political and territorial strife, which escalated in February 2022 following Russia’s invasion of the country. Since the invasion, Ukraine has regained about 54 percent of its occupied territory, and the United States has sent the country more than $100 billion in aid. The Biden administration announced a $500 million weapons package for Ukraine on Thursday.
Any student can apply to the group through a Google form that asks applicants to input their contact information and propose a brief policy recommendation for Ukraine before its Jan. 17 deadline. Pashkina said she will hold interviews with the applicants to help narrow down the candidates.
Pashkina said Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s power grid last month have caused mass blackouts in Ukraine and disrupted its nuclear power plants, which are a “huge” problem throughout the country and an issue the working group plans to address with their recommendations.
“We’ll try to see what the students are most interested in, and maybe what their expertise is in, so that we can get the most out of this project,” she said.
Pashkina said the group will be divided based on whether members would like to focus on either the economy or security, but members could create a third issue group depending on interest and the total number of students selected.
The group also plans to send their recommendations directly to members of the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian parliament, who work on issues of the group’s “concern and interest,” through official forms and will request meetings with Ukrainian officials to discuss their findings, Pashkina said.
“We want students to learn a lot,” Pashkina said. “And we’re gonna invite different scholars, as well as politicians, who will give some kind of master classes to help students to master their skills and just have a look at their recommendations and maybe advise something on that.”
Pashkina said as a native Ukrainian, she feels “a bit sad” when she returns to Kyiv, Ukraine, because even though she’s always excited to see her family, the reality of the war shows the “ruined destinies and lost lives” as more than 11,700 Ukrainian civilians have been killed since Russia’s invasion.
She said it takes her three days to travel home, so she only returns during long holidays, like winter break. Pashkina added that most Ukrainians didn’t celebrate the start of 2025 because of the continued loss of life.
“When you come back home, you see only one New Year’s wish for the war to end because it’s impossible to live in the war, and Ukraine is managing,” Pashkina said.
Her personal connection to Ukraine fuels her fight for her country, she said, adding that the “spirit” and “bravery” of Ukraine inspires her to keep going and fight against Russia.
“I believe that every person should fight, in his domain,” she said. That’s why I’m trying to contribute through my domain because I’m not trained to go and serve in the army. It’s not for everyone and even not for every man. It’s very difficult, and I believe that people have to be trained for that. If you want this fighting to be successful, it should be done on all the levels.”
Alex Sturza, the AHS GW president, said Pashkina is planning to bring former U.S. Ambassador William Taylor to Ukraine, who served in the position from 2006 to 2009, to a meeting in March to discuss the working group’s proposals.
“That’s a very influential figure you can’t just find anywhere,” Sturza said.
Sturza said Pashkina joined AHS’ leadership committee last October, and believes the working group will provide an opportunity for people to learn “more than anything else.”
“That’s kind of what our organization is supposed to do, is create opportunities for individuals to learn more about international affairs,” Sturza said. “This is just one more example of how we do that.”
Sturza added that attending college in D.C. offers students interested in Ukraine policy unique opportunities.
“Being in D.C. at GW, the Ukrainian embassy here in D.C. is probably the most important Ukrainian embassy in the world,” he said.
