The largest Ukrainian flag in the world is set to be rolled out just outside the Republican National Convention on Monday in a call for continued support from the GOP as Donald Trump takes up the nomination.
The flag will be unveiled at nearby Clarence & Cleopatra Johnson Park at 5:30 p.m. in Milwaukee. The event is organized by Ukrainian Milwaukee and Razom for Ukraine, a New York City-based nonprofit that has raised $100 million since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine in February 2022.
“As Republicans gather to nominate President Trump as the standard bearer of their party, we want to express our gratitude to those who voted to aid Ukraine and their fight for Western values and freedom,” said Daniel Balson, Razom’s director of public engagement.
The event comes as Republicans have been apprehensive in announcing full support of Ukraine.
The Trump-backed GOP 2024 platform does not mention “Ukraine” once, instead saying America should “return to peace through strength.” The platform also argues US allies “must meet their obligations to invest in our common defense and by restoring peace to Europe.”
The former president, 78, has been coy about his concrete plans to end the war. He has claimed he will solve the war in “24 hours,” but has refused to reveal the steps — despite the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump has also criticized the amount of American monetary support for Ukraine and said Kyiv is “not winning” the war during the first presidential debate.
Ukraine advocates, including Balson, have argued that the money is paying off and Ukraine is a critical part of American national security.
“The Reagan Doctrine is alive and America’s investment in supporting Ukraine has paid off. To date, the United States has only contributed 5% of its annual US military budget in security assistance, yet Ukraine has managed to cut Putin’s combat capacity in half,” he said.
“That is a significant and historic return on investment for US national security.”
Republicans in the House were fighting for months about passing a supplemental Ukraine vote in April, with the vote triggering an effort to oust Speaker Mike Johnson from his post by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
The flag is supposed to symbolize “unity” and is a “thank you” to Republicans for passing the aid.
“The unveiling of the massive Ukrainian flag is a symbol of unity and an emphatic reminder that the spirit of freedom cannot be broken,” said Halyna Salapata, one of the event organizers.
The event is also being supported by the Illinois Division of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, and Wisconsin Ukrainians, Inc.
“With global attention focused on the Republican National Convention, we have a unique opportunity to express our gratitude for the support shown by the Republican Party thus far and to urge continued backing for Ukraine until complete victory is achieved,” Salapata added.
The RNC convention will run July 15-18 and features prominent Republicans as speakers, including Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) as the GOP outlines the future of the party.
Trump is expected to make his vice president announcement either before or during the convention.
