Description:
As the second edition of Portraits of Ukraine A Nation at War goes to press in December of 2025, the future of Ukraine is still very much in question. But there is no question that the Ukrainian people are the heroes of this book.
Brief description: Gregory W. Slayton served as the US Ambassador to Bermuda under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. His diplomatic experience led him to write "Four Centuries of Friendship," a book celebrating the 400-year history of US-Bermuda relations, and now "Portraits of Ukraine A Nation at War," a book presenting modern Ukraine in the context of its history, culture, politics, faith traditions, and people. An expert at bringing people together, he is the author of the marriage and parenting advice books "Be a Better Dad Today," "Be the Best Mom You Can be," and "Maximum Marriage." A husband and father of four children, Ambassador Slayton has decades of experience cultivating strong family ties in addition to diplomatic relations. Follow us on our social media pages and official website portraitsofukraine dot org
Review Quotes:
"PORTRAITS OF UKRAINE: A Nation at War by Gregory W. Slayton and Sergei Ivashenko is a visually striking and deeply informative work that expands far beyond the expected narrative of conflict....What makes the book particularly compelling is its scope. Rather than focusing solely on the ongoing war, the authors devote considerable attention to Ukrainian culture, faith, and artistic traditions. Chapters on folk art, religion, and national customs highlight the resilience of Ukrainian identity even during centuries of foreign domination....The people are what make a country."
Megan Parker for IndieReader
"In this riveting second edition of Ivashenko and Slayton's Portraits of Ukraine, readers gain a rich understanding of Ukraine's background, religion, culture, and the unwavering spirit of its people-even in the face of appalling persecution. Starting with Ukraine's coveted land and its earliest occupants, the authors balance its heritage with its pained history, noting the "uneven development of its political and governance systems, frequently marred by war" over the past millennium. From its earliest inhabitants-the Cucuteni-Trypillia in the Neolithic era-to the fall of the Tsarist autocracy to the present-day election of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine's history unfolds as tumultuous, revolutionary, and enduring."
Booklife Review from April 13th, 2026
"Portraits of Ukraine A Nation at War, by the American diplomat Gregory W. Slayton and Sergei Ivashenko, is a real-world demonstration of resilience; this beautiful volume offers many insights into Ukraine's rich history, culture, politics and religious traditions. With more than 300 illustrations, it puts the reader on the ground. The final chapter, 'Why Support Ukraine, ' is an especially compelling argument for why the U.S. must stand by its ally."
Published in the Wall Street Journal on December 7th, 2024.
"Seldom does a book appear that provides as comprehensive a treatment of its subject matter as does Portraits of Ukraine. The authors present an excellent overview of Ukraine in a highly readable volume complemented with photos and descriptions that serve to strengthen the overall narrative."
-Published in the Kyiv Post and Cipher Brief on November 15th, 2024
"To honor Ukraine...recipient of the Distinguished Foreign Service award Gregory Slayton takes readers into the past [four] years in Ukraine and beyond, with exclusive contributions from President Zelensky as well as former Vice President Mike Pence."
-Morning Joe on MSNBC, February 28th, 2025
"There's a former American Ambassador named Gregory Slayton who has written a new book named Portraits of Ukraine A Nation at War...the proceeds from this book are going to help the Ukrainian people who have been hurt by Vladimir Putin...this book is worthy of your attention..."
-Bill O'Reilly in podcast interview
"Portraits of Ukraine A Nation at War is a tremendous book. It brings to life our homeland, our culture, and our people. Given Russia's worldwide disinformation campaign, works like this are essential. As a patriotic Ukrainian and a former Member of Parliament, I recommend it most highly."
-Pavel Unguryan, Former Member of the Ukrainian parliament & Chairman of the Ukrainian Prayer Breakfast