Ukrainian ambassador visits Binalong cafe after 'heartwarming' US tariff fundraiserBy Hamish Cole and Xanthe GregoryABC Central WestTopic:Small Businesses20m ago20 minutes agoMon 12 May 2025 at 6:00amVasyl Myroshychenko met with people supporting the war-torn nation at the Cafe on Queen in Binalong. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)In short: The owners of a cafe in Binalong imposed their own tariff on American goods, such as Coca-Cola, earlier this year to show support for Ukraine.Ukraine's ambassador to Australia has travelled to the tiny town to thank them.What's next?The cafe will remove the tariff as the owners believe there has been progress in the relationship between the US and Ukraine.abc.net.au/news/ukrainian-ambassador-visits-binalong-cafe-us-tarrifs/105267192Link copiedShareShare articleSituated about 100 kilometres north-west of Canberra, with a population of just 550, Binalong seems an unlikely destination for a diplomat to visit.But all that changed when the owners of the local cafe decided to impose a tariff on US goods and donate the proceeds to aid efforts in Ukraine.The move captured national attention and led to a visit by Ukraine's ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshychenko."It's about the gesture, it's about the sign of solidarity, about the spirit of these people," he said."This is so heartwarming for the Ukrainian people and for me personally."Since March, Jan Giles and Adrian Sykes have been charging customers an extra dollar for American goods such as Coca-Cola.The price hike was anything but bad for business."A lot of people have come into the cafe specifically to make a donation to Ukraine or to buy a can of Coke to pay the tariff," Ms Giles said."We haven't sold as much Coke before as we have since the tariff was put on."Adrian Sykes and Jan Giles have raised thousands of dollars for Ukraine. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)The idea came about when they were outraged by US President Donald Trump's treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a confrontational White House meeting in March.The cafe has matched the profits made from the tariff, raising thousands of dollars for the Australian Red Cross Ukraine appeal.The ambassador's visit to Binalong came on the same day Ukraine asked Russia's Vladimir Putin for a 30-day ceasefire ahead of peace talks set to be held in Türkiye.Today, Mr Sykes and the ambassador made the symbolic move of turning an American flag that was hanging upside down in the cafe — signalling a state of distress — the right way up. The American flag was hung upside down at the Binalong cafe in response to Donald Trump's treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)Ambassador Myroshychenko said it was "the way it's supposed to be". "America is the biggest donor to Ukraine, and we wouldn't be able to withstand the Russian attack without American leadership," he said. He said they turned the flag back around because there had been progress in what he described as a "rocky" relationship between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy. The presidents met in the Oval Office in February, where they were expected to negotiate a preliminary agreement on sharing Ukraine's mineral resources. (Reuters: Brian Snyde)"We've had our ups and downs, but now we are definitely on the up side," he said.Earlier this month, the US and Ukraine signed a critical minerals deal to help fund the reconstruction of the war-torn country.As a result of that progress, the Binalong cafe's tariff will also now be removed. Fundraising appeal Mr Sykes said the introduction of the tariff was initially a gimmick, but it had gained more momentum than they could have ever imagined. "It's beyond our wildest dreams," Mr Sykes said. Products from American-owned beverage companies like Coca-Cola and Jim Bean were subject to the cafe's tariff. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)"We started this as a small fundraiser. Here we are several months later still ticking over, and it's bringing the plight of the Ukrainian people back in the spotlight, which is what we need."It's not anti-American, it's not anti-Trump, it's standing up for the people of Ukraine in this unjust war."Customers were charged extra for select products that are manufactured in America. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)So far, the tariffs have helped them raise more than $5,000 for the Red Cross appeal.The pair also plan to visit Ukraine during their upcoming European holiday. "We'll go somewhere safe and hopefully make a connection with a small town like Binalong over there, and you don't know what could become of that," Ms Giles said. Community support Many people in the community and from afar have been getting behind the cafe's efforts. The Red Cross appeal's secretary Lily Semciw travelled from Lake Macquarie to be in Bingalong today. The Ukrainian flag is hung up next to Australian flag in the cafe, as a show of solidarity. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)Her cousins live in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv."I just think of the people in the trenches of Ukraine who didn't want to be there, the people who have lost their homes who didn't deserve it, the people who were hungry and cold and have lost loved ones — that is what keeps me going," she said."Being here with all these wonderful, generous and caring people who have shown support for Ukraine actually feels like a little bit of healing for Ukraine." Supporter Paul Hardie travelled an hour from Cootamundra to witness the ambassador's visit, inspired by his father's efforts fighting fascism during World War II. "It makes me feel very proud that I live in regional Australia and small regional towns can become involved, can become very passionate about supporting democracy and supporting people striving for freedom," he said. The cafe has raised more than $5,000 for the Red Cross appeal for Ukraine. (ABC Central West: Hamish Cole)Binalong local Rob Robertson said the international attention the cafe had garnered was incredible. "[It's a] small statement, small town, but it's taken off," he said. "Australians, we're not keen on bullies, we're keen on supporting the underdog." 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