On the occasion of the 106th Mayor’sCongress in Paris, a delegation of 46 Ukrainian mayor’s and deputy mayors, organized by Stand With Ukraine and its partners to strengthen the ties between French and Ukrainian elected officials, was honored during an official reception at the City Hall, chaired by Anne Hidalgo, Paris’s Mayor.
Recalling her four trips to Ukraine since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion, the Mayor of Paris reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to stand by Ukrainian officials and announced an upcoming trip: ‘You are heroes. We will never let you down. We will always stand by your side.’ The Ukrainian officials, invited to the stage, received a warm standing ovation, a testament to the admiration and unanimous support of the French officials for their courage.
Several figures from French political life also took the floor to salute these Ukrainian officials who, in the midst of war, defend their municipalities on a daily basis. David Lisnard, President of the Association of French Mayors, emphasized the importance of protecting democratic values in the face of authoritarian regimes:
“If democracies cannot demonstrate that they defend an ideal superior to illiberal dictatorial regimes, it will be France itself that will face this. It will be the end of freedom, prosperity, and dignity.”
André Laignel, First Vice-President of the Association of French Mayors, emphasized that the Ukrainian conflict goes beyond the country’s borders and concerns all European nations: ‘What is happening in Ukraine is obviously at the heart of our concerns, because we know that what is happening there is not only the defense of Ukraine, but also that of Europe.’ The presence of Vadym Omelchenko, Ukraine’s Ambassador to France, underscored the importance of diplomatic ties and solidarity between the two nations.
The Ukrainian chefs displaced from Mariupol, recently trained at Thierry Marx’s school, Cuisine Mode d’emploi(s), in Toulouse, were also invited to this reception dedicated to Ukraine. Present in Paris for their final day of culinary training, they demonstrated that it is possible to rebuild after experiencing the unimaginable. Some of them are preparing to inaugurate ‘La Cantine de Mariupol’ in Dnipro, a third-place facility designed to welcome displaced Ukrainian families. This project, led by Stand With Ukraine, combines culture, gastronomy, and solidarity, embodying the desire to offer new opportunities for those in need.
This reception highlighted France’s unwavering solidarity with Ukraine in its quest for freedom, justice, and peace.
