A group of Ukrainian college students hopes their recent participation in a National Model United Nations conference in the city will help spread their message of why it is important for Ukraine to win the war.

At a Model UN conference, students represent a particular country and advocate for the nation's needs, while also gaining skills in diplomacy, negotiation, critical thinking, compromise and public speaking.

Ukrainian college students recently teamed up with students from Manhattan College in the Bronx. The students represented different countries in simulated committee meetings to discuss current global issues using UN procedural rules.

More than a year after Russian President Vladimir Putin invded neighboring Ukraine, the countries are still fighting, and thousands of people have died as a result.

Pamela Chasek, a professor and chair of the political science department at Manhattan College, and Jazi Riley, a Manhattan College sophomore and Model UN participant, joined Rocco Vertuccio Sunday morning on NY1 to discuss their experience at the conference.

"We wanted to represent and double down on the Ukrainian's emphasis on unity and determination in times of crisis and conflict," Riley said.

Riley says that when preparing for the conference, she realized how desensitized Americans are to violence and war.

"We don't have to be consicous of atrocities at all times," Riley said. "This war affects everyone in every facet of life."

During the interview, Riley and Chasek also discussed the importance of Model UN and how it positively affects students.

"This is an amazing program because it gives students the opportunity to really delve into a whole variety of global issues and to recognize their interlinked nature as well as their importance," Chasek said.