Four representatives of Ukrainian local self-government bodies made an advocacy visit to France.

The main purpose was to strengthen ties between Ukrainian and French communities, to discuss the current situation in Ukraine, and to call for more support for Ukraine. 

Ukraine was presented by Natalia Rybynska, vice mayor of Ovruch community Olena Shvydka, mayor of the Ivanivska village community, Viktor Hodyk, the mayor of the Horokhiv community, Svitlana Spazheva, mayor of the Pokrovsk community, Dnipropetrovsk region, Lyusyena Shum, NGO ANTS member.

The program contained meetings with representatives of the French Senate, French MPs, and members of the Association of small towns of France (the Association des Petites Villes de France). Also, meetings in educational institutions, NGOs, and partner communities. 

During the visit, the topics of Ukraine’s reconstruction, community management during the war, and the need for emergency humanitarian AID were discussed. 

“Your victory will be our victory, your defeat would be the defeat of us all. We must help you more, and quickly. Your future is also our future”.

 — said, a European MP, Raphaël Glucksmann.

The visit was organized by ICUV, ANTS, and “Stand with Ukraine” to establish cooperation at the level of communities and municipalities, to provide informative campaigns about Ukrainian reality, and to engage more support for our country.