Bridges of Trust

European local and regional leaders, gathered under the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), mark the second anniversary of the unwarranted invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation with a resounding declaration of support for Ukraine and its people.
 
On this solemn occasion, we, the European local and regional leaders, condemn the full-scale war unleashed by Russian forces against Ukraine. This illegal invasion has targeted innocent civilians, including elected representatives, while unlawfully occupying Ukrainian territories. The recent abduction of Ukrainian mayors by Russian forces further compounds the violation of human rights and international humanitarian law.
 
We express our solidarity with the Association of Ukrainian Cities and join their call for the immediate release of unlawfully detained mayors, including:

• Oleksandr Babych – Hola Prystan city mayor (Kherson region)
• Oleksii Vynnychenko – Head of Hrebenykivka starosta district of Boromlia village municipality (Sumy region)
• Ihor Kolykhaiev – Kherson city mayor
• Yevhenii Matvieiev – Dniprorudne city mayor (Zaporizhzhia region)
• Anatolii Siryi – Head of Novi Borovychi starosta district of Snovsk city municipality (Chernihiv region)

 
CEMR renews its unwavering commitment to support the Ukrainian people in pursuing victory, peace, and reconstruction. We pledge to empower local and regional governments in Ukraine through international municipal partnerships, emphasizing our support within the context of the Bridges of Trust project, the Eastern Partnership programme, and the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine.

Read the Declaration:

• English
• French
• Polish
• Ukrainian