4th International Summit of Cities and Regions
On May 25, international delegations will arrive in Kyiv for the 4th International Summit of Cities and Regions, themed 'Partnership. Resilience. Readiness.' Among the attendees are Poland’s Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, Katarzyna Pełczyńska-Nałęcz, and the Secretary General of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, Mathieu Mori. The first participants were greeted by Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development, Oleksiy Balesta.
As part of the preparatory program, participants will visit the Kyiv region to witness firsthand Ukraine’s experience in overcoming the consequences of war and rebuilding communities. The Ministry for Communities and Territories Development notes that the summit will serve as a platform for dialogue between governments, cities, regions, and international partners on Ukraine’s recovery, strengthening community resilience, and fostering long-term partnerships.
Visit of Sviatlana Tykhanovskaya
Additionally, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tykhanovskaya has arrived in Kyiv for her first official visit. She stated that her visit is
“a tribute to the memory of a person who gave their life for the freedom of Ukraine and Belarus”.
This summit underscores the importance of international support in Ukraine’s post-war recovery and facilitates cross-country experience sharing on crisis management. Tykhanovskaya’s visit may signal global solidarity in supporting democracy and human rights in the region, a particularly relevant issue given the current challenges facing both Ukraine and Belarus.
As the summit unfolds, the presence of Sviatlana Tykhanovskaya in Kyiv highlights the growing international dialogue on democratic values in the region. Her meeting with President Zelenskyy is expected to further emphasize the collaborative efforts between Ukraine and Belarus in addressing shared challenges. For more on Tykhanovskaya's discussions with Ukrainian leadership, see the details in our article about her upcoming meeting with Zelenskyy.