The war has forced Ukrainian communities to make daily management decisions amid constant crisis. The experience gained by Ukrainian cities is now the subject of international discussion, particularly within global municipal associations.

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As part of the 94th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) in Washington, D.C., a panel discussion entitled ‘How Cities are Shaping Global Affairs’ was held, focusing on the role of municipalities in international relations, post-crisis recovery, and the development of local diplomacy.

Ukrainian communities were represented on the panel by Mykola Riznyk, Head of the Opishnia community in Poltava region. He began his speech by clearly outlining the context in which Ukrainian community leaders work today:

‘It is a great honour for me to speak on behalf of Ukrainian mayors – mayors whose cities are under daily attack. I represent Opishnia, a small community in Poltava region, which is now a frontline region.’

Turning to the subject of community identity, Mykola Riznyk recalled that Opishnia is the centre of Ukrainian pottery, a place where a culture of creativity and beauty has flourished over the centuries. However, the war has radically altered the way the community develops.

‘For hundreds of years, we have been creating beauty from clay and fire. Today, however, we are producing solar energy not because it is fashionable, but because russia has destroyed our energy system.’

The community leader described the realities in which Ukrainian cities are forced to provide basic services to people amid destruction and harsh weather conditions:

‘Imagine: no electricity, no heat, no water. Outside, the temperature is minus 17–20 degrees. And in such conditions, our schools are open, kindergartens are working, hospitals are saving lives. Generators run day and night. When they break down, we repair them and start them up again, because when the generator stops, life stops.’

Speaking to his American colleagues, he drew a parallel between natural disasters and the war in Ukraine, emphasising one key difference:

‘I know you recently had a hurricane. This is terrible. But the war in Ukraine has been going on for years. And it is not natural. It is russia.’

Despite the constant threat, Ukrainian communities have not stopped developing. Mykola Riznyk says that it is the war that has shaped the unique administrative experience of community leaders:

‘We live in crisis mode every day. We know how to manage cities during wartime. Ukrainian mayors today have experience that no one else has.’

He emphasised the need for real international support and inter-municipal partnerships:

‘My message to you, mayors, is simple: help Ukrainian cities survive. We are looking for sister cities in the United States – not just on paper, but in action. We want to learn from you, and at the same time, we are ready to share our experience on protecting people, preparing for the worst, and moving forward.’

In conclusion, Mykola Riznyk reiterated the strategic importance of supporting Ukraine for the security of the democratic world:

‘When you help Ukraine today, you make your city safer tomorrow. Russia will not stop on its own – we must stop it together. Today, Ukraine is a test of leadership and humanity. I believe the world’s strongest country will make the right choice.’

The Ukrainian delegation, which was invited by the American side, includes six mayors of small towns from different regions of Ukraine. They represent communities that have been living and working in war conditions for the past five years.

For reference: The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official association of mayors of American cities with a population of over 30,000. The organisation is a platform for developing solutions on urban development, partnerships with the federal government, and international cooperation.

 

The participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the 94th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors was facilitated by the systematic work of BIG.U (Business Incubator Group Ukraine), an organisation that acts as an integrator and consulting centre for communities.

 

Through business diplomacy tools, BIG.U transforms its international contacts into stable horizontal ties, building practical ‘bridges’ between Ukrainian municipalities, scientific institutions, civil society institutions, and businesses with partners from the United States, Great Britain, and Canada.

 

BIG.U's key areas of activity are scaling up its long-standing cooperation with Texas as part of the global Bridge to Prosperity initiative, as well as systematically implementing programmes to support international inter-municipal cooperation and territorial development in Ukrainian communities based on the Community Wealth Building model.

 

The participation of the Ukrainian delegation in the 94th Winter Meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors was facilitated by the systematic work of BIG.U (Business Incubator Group Ukraine), an organisation that acts as an integrator and consulting centre for communities.

Through business diplomacy tools, BIG.U transforms its international contacts into stable horizontal ties, building practical ‘bridges’ between Ukrainian municipalities, scientific institutions, civil society institutions, and businesses with partners from the United States, Great Britain, and Canada.

BIG.U's key areas of activity are scaling up its long-standing cooperation with Texas as part of the global Bridge to Prosperity initiative, as well as systematically implementing programmes to support international inter-municipal cooperation and territorial development in Ukrainian communities based on the Community Wealth Building model.

This approach allows international partnerships to be transformed from declarations into effective mechanisms for cross-sectoral cooperation, to form deep sectoral synergies and to convert business diplomacy into tangible tools for the economic revitalisation of communities and the strengthening of national security.