Today, March 22, the International Marathon "Local Governments Unite for Welfare and Peace" took place. This time the dialogue was joined by representatives of local governments, including sister cities of Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland, Great Britain and leaders of local governments of Ukraine.

Requirements for the leaders of European municipalities voiced today have not changed. In particular, the Minister for Communities and Territories Development Oleksii Chernyshov urged to exert pressure on the governments of their countries regarding strengthening sanctions against the terrorist country of russia in order to economically disable this was for them.

For his part, the Mayor of Krakow Jacek Majchrowski expressed readiness to call on his citizens to boycott the products of companies that continue to operate in russia and finance the war in Ukraine.

The mayors of the cities who are currently struggling to survive have demanded that their colleagues close the skies over Ukraine, as this is number one issue for today. People are dying under constant shelling, and some cities are on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe through the bombing.

"We are fighting today not only for our cities and our country. We are fighting for the values and key principles that russia is trampling on. And what the russian army is doing in Ukraine today, putin's appetites and plans may not be limited to our state. But to spread to other European countries as well. And Europeans must understand that!" Kyiv City Head Vitaliy Klitschko emphasized.

Ukraine is waiting for a clear signal of support from Europe and understanding for the country's membership in the EU. Therefore, summing up, Minister Oleksii Chernyshov once again called on his colleagues to promote the need to accept Ukraine into the European family.

The next marathon with the municipalities of Canada, Israel, Mexico and the United States will take place later.

We express gratitude to the partners of the event: the Council of Europe Programme Enhancing Decentralization and Public Administration Reform in Ukraine, the USAID Economic Support for Eastern Ukraine Program, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Mission of Ukraine to the Council of Europe, the Association of Ukrainian Cities, the Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities and the Decentralization Portal.