The IV International Summit of Cities and Regions, themed “Partnership. Resilience. Readiness,” commenced in Kyiv on May 26, 2026, attracting delegations from 24 countries.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko emphasized the significance of the summit in shaping the long-term resilience of Ukraine’s economy, energy sector, and infrastructure ahead of the upcoming Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2026). She noted that since 2022, nearly 500 Ukrainian communities have established over 2,000 agreements with 64 nations, with plans to sign 22 new cooperation agreements and memorandums during the summit.
President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the attendees, highlighting the participation of representatives from countries including Poland, France, Austria, Romania, Norway, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Belgium, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, the USA, Slovenia, Moldova, North Macedonia, and Switzerland.
Zelensky acknowledged the presence of Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Budapest’s Mayor Gergely Karácsony, expressing hope for improved relations with Hungary. He remarked on the significance of Belarusian representation at the summit, noting that Tsikhanouskaya’s attendance came shortly after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko suggested a meeting between the leaders of Ukraine and Belarus.
The president expressed gratitude to community representatives for their support of Ukraine and its refugees, underlining the importance of horizontal cooperation among communities and regional authorities. He stated, “This format of interaction is one of the most exemplary… We have never relied solely on relationships between country leaders; the opinions of societies have always been crucial for us.”
Zelensky warned that Russia continues to threaten Ukraine with new attacks and is attempting to draw Belarus further into the conflict. He stated, “The Russian madness has not diminished. They again threaten us with strikes and are trying to involve Belarus more in the war, posing threats to the Baltic states, Finland, Moldova, and Poland. We must remain resilient and strong, as our decisions and shared sentiments are vital today.”
He reiterated the priority of providing Ukraine with air defense systems and emphasized the need to strengthen the resilience of Ukrainian communities, noting that this experience could benefit communities in other countries.
Zelensky thanked Gdańsk and Poland for their preparations for the upcoming URC and stressed the importance of achieving tangible results for rebuilding Ukraine and engaging European businesses. He announced that Ukrainian communities would be well represented at the conference.
Additionally, the president introduced the initiative for an international forum focused on the Carpathian macro-region, stating, “We are developing this format and preparing for the international forum on the Carpathian integration initiative. I appreciate the collaborative efforts to make this initiative effective.”
The IV International Summit of Cities and Regions in Kyiv gathered representatives from 24 countries to discuss partnerships and resilience strategies for Ukraine. Key topics included air defense priorities and community cooperation ahead of the Ukraine Recovery Conference.