On May 26, 2026, Kyiv welcomed delegates from 24 countries for the IV International Cities and Regions Summit, themed “Partnership. Resilience. Readiness.” The event aims to enhance long-term stability in Ukraine’s economy, energy, and infrastructure ahead of the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2026).
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko highlighted the significance of the summit, noting that since 2022, nearly 500 Ukrainian communities have established over 2,000 agreements with 64 nations. During the summit, 22 new cooperation agreements and memorandums are set to be signed, with a focus on expanding partnerships, particularly for frontline communities.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the summit, acknowledging the presence of representatives from countries including Poland, France, Austria, Romania, Norway, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Finland, the Netherlands, the United States, Slovenia, Moldova, North Macedonia, and Switzerland.
In his remarks, Zelensky also recognized Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony, expressing hope for improved relations between Ukraine and Hungary.
“Today we have the Mayor of Budapest here, and I hope we will certainly improve relations between our countries. This is crucial for our region and for Europe as a whole,” Zelensky stated. He also noted the attendance of Belarusian representatives, emphasizing the importance of dialogue in the region.
President Zelensky expressed gratitude to the communities for their support of Ukraine and its refugees, underscoring the importance of horizontal cooperation among communities and regional authorities.
“This format of interaction—between communities and cities, between regional authorities and government officials—is one of the most illustrative. We have never relied solely on relationships between national leaders; it has always been crucial to understand the perspectives of societies,” he remarked.
He further warned of ongoing threats from Russia, which he claimed is attempting to draw Belarus further into the conflict.
“Each of us understands that Russian aggression remains a significant threat. They are once again threatening us with attacks and rejecting real diplomacy, while trying to involve Belarus more deeply in the war and threatening the Baltic states, Finland, Moldova, and Poland. We must remain resilient and strong, as our decisions and shared sentiments are critical today,” Zelensky noted.
The President emphasized the need for continued advocacy for Ukraine’s air defense systems, labeling it as the top priority, and highlighted the importance of building resilience in Ukrainian communities, which could serve as a model for others.
“I am grateful to Gdańsk and Poland for their substantial preparations for the URC conference this June. It is essential that the meetings in Gdańsk yield tangible results for rebuilding in Ukraine and attracting European businesses to engage with Ukrainian enterprises. Our communities will be well represented at the conference,” he added.
Zelensky also announced plans for an international forum focused on the Carpathian macro-region, stating, “We are developing this initiative and preparing for an international forum for the Carpathian integration initiative. I appreciate every participant’s collaborative efforts to make this format effective.”
The IV International Cities and Regions Summit in Kyiv gathered representatives from 24 countries to discuss partnerships and resilience in Ukraine. President Zelensky emphasized the importance of community cooperation and warned of ongoing threats from Russia while outlining future initiatives.