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Statement by the Eurocities Executive Committee.

We, the mayors of European cities, raise our voice to oppose Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. We stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom and independence.

We condemn Russia’s attacks on civilians and the destruction of cities, homes and vital infrastructure. No historical grievance, political interest or great-power ambition can justify the invasion of an independent country, or atrocities against its civilian population.

We deeply respect the perseverance and sacrifice of the Ukrainian people. In resisting, Ukrainians are defending not only their homeland but also European security and the principle that borders cannot be changed by force. Their struggle matters to the countries bordering Ukraine and Russia, and to the whole of Europe.

Residents of Ukrainian cities are enduring extraordinary hardship, and it is growing worse. Attacks on energy, heating and water supply hit civilians particularly hard. As the cold months set in, assistance is a condition for preserving human life and dignity in many cities.

We encourage all European cities to support our call and to provide direct additional assistance to Ukrainian cities at this critical moment for Ukraine.

Any contribution can make a tangible difference, helping communities maintain essential public services and strengthening their resilience. Action taken now can better prepare Ukrainian communities to face the coming winter. It will also give the Ukrainian people hope for the months ahead.

Eurocities and its members have already shown in the past how true partnership is proven by being able to count on each other in times of need.

We therefore ask all European cities to reach out to their Ukrainian partners, assess their needs, and mobilise residents, communities, institutions, civil society organisations and businesses to provide relevant assistance.

We must act now. The arrival of cold weather will only deepen an already difficult humanitarian situation.

Winter will not wait. Neither should we.

What can you support with?

Support can take many forms and does not always require large funding, but it must be relevant and meet real needs.

Examples include:

• school buses, inverter batteries, CO₂ sensors, IT equipment, so that children can continue their education;
• approximately 50 EURO5 buses, each with a capacity of around 50 passengers, to support urgent mobility needs in Ukrainian frontline cities;
• minivans and other municipal vehicles to take older people and people with disabilities to healthcare facilities;
• equipment to repair and restore damaged energy infrastructure, including power transformers, cables, diagnostic equipment and a variety of repair tools.
• Russia’s full-scale war is now in its fifth year, and many children in Ukraine have known little but war. Hosting Ukrainian children camps in any season – in particular those from displaced families who have lost their homes – would be a deeply humane act of solidarity and compassion.

How to support?

Support can be channelled in several ways:

• If your city or region already has a municipal or regional partner in Ukraine, we invite you to contact them and coordinate your assistance directly.
• Through the Association of Ukrainian Cities: donation proposals can be sent to help@auc.org.ua and auc.communities@gmail.com. The Association will help you verify needs and identify priority locations in Ukraine.
• Through Eurocities.

If you can act, or already have, we would be grateful if you could share your initiatives with Eurocities. These may inspire other network members to join our community efforts.