During the Mayors’ Congress in Paris, a delegation of 46 Ukrainian mayors and deputies spent three days in France, supported by Stand With Ukraine, Cities4Cities, the Association of French Mayors, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This visit allowed them to meet their French counterparts, share expertise, and lay the groundwork for new cooperation projects.
Several mayors took the opportunity to strengthen ties with their French partner cities, some of which were established remotely. The mayors of Pokrovsk, Slavutych, Burshtyn, and Trostyanets visited Moret-Loing-et-Orvanne, Franconville, Sorbiers, and Gennevilliers, respectively, to solidify existing relationships. Meanwhile, the mayors of Chuhuiv and Verkhivtseve traveled to Château-Thierry and Baisieux to explore new partnerships.
Serhii Kovalenko, head of the Podil district in Kyiv, met with Patrick Bloche, first deputy to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, to discuss collaboration opportunities between their territories. Paris and Kyiv had already signed a friendship pact in April 2022.
Thanks to support from Stand With Ukraine, Cities4Cities, and the Île-de-France region, several partnerships have already been established, including those between Boyarka and Palaiseau, Slavutych and Franconville, Hostomel and Vélizy-Villacoublay, Kruty and Santeny, and Koryukivka and Chaville.
The visits provided opportunities to strengthen relationships while exploring local infrastructure, including sports complexes, transportation networks, and town halls. The visits also featured official exchanges, press conferences, and convivial moments such as lunches and meetings with local stakeholders, fostering open and constructive dialogue.
The mayors of the Ukrainian towns Nosivka, Sosnytsia, and Tarashcha were welcomed by Geoffroy Didier, Deputy President of the Île-de-France Region, and Cédric Guillon Lavocat, Deputy Director-General for European and International Affairs. These discussions aimed to establish cooperation with communities in the Île-de-France region, particularly with Carrières-sous-Poissy, Brunoy, and Athis-Mons.
These meetings highlighted the strength and dynamism of Franco-Ukrainian partnerships, providing valuable opportunities to consolidate existing ties and develop new initiatives. Concrete projects envisioned include cultural exchange trips for children to discover French culture, humanitarian aid efforts, exhibitions showcasing the resilience of Ukrainian communities, and expertise-sharing on topics such as reconstruction and energy transition. These initiatives demonstrate the essential role of partnerships in building lasting relationships and realizing projects that benefit both nations.
