The world’s largest Ukrainian flag will be raised outside the Republican National Convention on Monday to call for continued Republican support for Donald Trump as he seeks the presidential nomination.
The flag will be unveiled at 5:30 p.m. in Clarence and Cleopatra Johnson Park near Milwaukee. The event is organized by Ukraine Milwaukee and Razom for Ukraine, a New York City-based nonprofit that has raised $100 million since Russia’s war with Ukraine began in February 2022.
“As Republican lawmakers come together to nominate President Trump as their party’s standard-bearer, we want to express our gratitude to those who supported Ukraine and voted in the fight for Western values and freedom,” said Daniel Balson, Lazom’s communications director.
The incident comes amid Republican unease about expressing full support for Ukraine.
The Republican 2024 platform, which Trump supports, does not mention “Ukraine” even once, instead saying the US should “restore peace through strength”. It also says US allies must “invest in our common defense and fulfill our obligation to restore peace to Europe”.
The 78-year-old former president has remained tight-lipped about his specific plans for ending the war. He has insisted he would resolve it in “24 hours” but has refused to reveal the steps he would take, despite requests from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump also criticised the amount of US financial aid being given to Ukraine and said during the first presidential debate that Kiev was “not winning” the war.
Ukraine advocates, including Barson, say the funding is working and that Ukraine is vital to US national security.
“The Reagan Doctrine lives on and America’s investments in helping Ukraine are paying off. To date, the US has contributed just 5 percent of the annual US military budget to security assistance, yet Ukraine has managed to cut Putin’s combat capabilities in half,” he said.
“This is a significant and historic return on investment for America’s national security.”
House Republicans have been fighting for months to pass a supplemental Ukraine bill in April that sparked a campaign by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to unseat House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The flag is meant to symbolize “unity” and also to express “gratitude” to the Republican Party for passing the aid package.
“The unveiling of the giant Ukrainian flag is a symbol of unity and a powerful reminder that the spirit of freedom cannot be destroyed,” said Halina Sarapata, one of the event’s organizers.
The event is also supported by the Illinois Chapter of the American Ukrainian Conference Committee and the Wisconsin Ukrainian Association.
“With the world’s attention on the Republican National Convention, we have a unique opportunity to express our gratitude for the support the Republican Party has shown so far and to urge continued support for Ukraine until complete victory is achieved,” Sarapata added.
The Republican National Convention runs from July 15-18 and will feature speeches from prominent Republican figures including President Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Rep. Elise Stefanik of upstate New York, with Republicans outlining the party’s future.
Trump is expected to announce his VP vacancy either before or during the convention.
