🇫🇷🇺🇦 At the 106th #CongressOfMayors 2024, we had the honor of welcoming the largest delegation of Ukrainian mayors ever to attend this event: 46 Ukrainian mayors and deputies. This exceptional moment is a testament to unprecedented solidarity and a shared commitment to strengthening ties between French and Ukrainian local governments.
French municipalities, with their expertise in reconstruction, play a central role in Ukraine’s resilience and transformation efforts by actively participating in this collective movement.
To further this solidarity, the Association of French Mayors (AMF), supported by Régions de France and Départements de France, organized the inaugural Franco-Ukrainian Summit of Local Governments, an unprecedented event in which Stand With Ukraine (SWU) played a key role.
During the Congress’s opening, special attention was given to Ukraine. David Lisnard, President of the AMF, reaffirmed French municipalities’ unwavering support in his speech, urging French cities to establish partnerships with their Ukrainian counterparts. Addressing nearly 5,000 French mayors via video, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized the importance of decentralized cooperation and the strategic role of these partnerships.
An especially emotional moment occurred when the Ukrainian delegates, accompanied by Ukraine’s Ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, were invited on stage and received prolonged applause from the assembly.
The Summit addressed critical topics:
- The needs of Ukrainian municipalities in the context of reconstruction;
- Concrete ways for French municipalities to contribute to these efforts;
- The importance of building sustainable partnerships between the two countries.
Speakers included prominent figures such as Andriy Sadovyi (Lviv), Borys Filatov (Dnipro), and Vadym Boichenko (Mariupol). On the French side, Thibaut Guignard, Mayor of Plœuc-L’Hermitage, highlighted that all municipalities, even the smallest, can play a pivotal role in international solidarity. Edward Mayor, President of Stand With Ukraine, stressed the importance of tangible projects and skill-sharing, while Pierre Heilbronn, France’s Special Envoy for Ukraine’s Reconstruction, outlined France’s actions to enhance Ukraine’s economic resilience and modernize its infrastructure.
At the Congress, Ukrainian mayors engaged with their French counterparts and institutional partners such as Electricians Without Borders, ANCT, and the National Federation of Public Works. These meetings initiated tangible collaborations, particularly in sustainable mobility and energy resilience.
The day concluded with a reception at Paris City Hall, where Mayor Anne Hidalgo addressed the courage of Ukrainian leaders, stating: “You are heroes. We will never abandon you. We will always stand by your side.”
This visit by Ukrainian mayors to France marks a pivotal step in transforming solidarity into actionable and lasting initiatives.
Since February 2022, Stand With Ukraine has been steadfast in its commitment to Ukraine, mobilizing French local governments to establish strong partnerships between French and Ukrainian communities.
