II All-Ukrainian Summit of Mayors 2025: Mayors of Slovakia supported community development and international partnerships

20–21 November 2025, we took part in the II All-Ukrainian Summit of Mayors, which built on the first edition and further developed a practical dialogue on the recovery and development of Ukraine. In the context of more than three years since the start of the full-scale invasion, the summit confirmed that local communities are the key pillar of the country’s resilience – and at the same time the foundation for its future economic recovery.

The organisers – the Mayors' Club in cooperation with the strategic partner Economy of Trust Ukraine – emphasised the need to increase the investment attractiveness of communities and to prepare high-quality, feasible projects that can serve as engines of growth. An important innovation was the launch of the international initiative Global Congress, aimed at connecting Ukrainian municipalities with foreign partners, businesses and investors, and creating concrete mechanisms for the implementation of recovery projects.

The program focused mainly on the following thematic areas:

• Education and rehabilitation of veterans (including reintegration through art)

• Agro projects and industrial parks

• Digitalization and energy solutions (including data centers)

• Public–private and inter-municipal partnerships

• Grants and investment programs 2025–2026

• Economic diplomacy: partnerships, investments, trust

• Innovative community development and international experience

The event also included recognition of leaders and organizations that contribute to community development and international solidarity – including the Best Community Leader of Ukraine 2025 and Global Impact of Solidarity Awards ceremonies.

Participation confirmed the commitment of Mayors of Slovakia to be an active partner in connecting municipalities, sharing experience, and supporting projects with real impact. The summit is perceived as a concrete step towards building long-term cooperation that can transform solidarity into functional partnerships, investments, and implemented solutions for the benefit of local communities.