The meeting was chaired by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi. The event was also attended by the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, the Head of the Presidential Office Andrii Yermak, members of the Government and heads of regional administrations, and joined online by European and American officials.
The participants of the event discussed strengthening regional development and cross-border cooperation in the context of EU integration, ensuring security in Ukraine's territorial communities under martial law, as well as the state of implementation and prospects of state programmes to support the regions most affected by russian aggression.
Opening the meeting, the President of Ukraine noted that Ukraine has decided to start negotiations on joining the European Union, and this is an institutional proof that our country will become a member of the EU.
"Next year, we have to work out the substantive details and framework for negotiations with the European Union and start the process of full integration of state institutions, legal norms and realities of life into EU standards. This is not only legislative work on laws and regulations, but also work on the realities of our lives, which must be such that we can truly feel that Ukraine is ready to join. This is a common task for everyone in Ukraine who works in the system of state and local self-government," Volodymyr Zelenskyi stressed.
The President of Ukraine also stressed that the main task now is the defence of Ukraine. Therefore, everything should be done at the local level for the sake of victory – from the approach to the allocation of funds and other issues important to society.
"I would like to draw everyone's attention to the fact that the life of the state, the life of any community, the life of every person is the life of Ukraine. The life that we must protect from russian aggression," he added.
For his part, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine noted that such a format as a meeting of the Presidium of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine allows for a direct dialogue between central and local authorities, and for the problems that are most painful for the regions to be heard directly.
"Our meeting is taking place immediately after the historic decision to open negotiations on Ukraine's membership in the EU," said Ruslan Stefanchuk, stressing that it is therefore important to remember that European integration progress largely depends on the effectiveness of local and regional authorities.
In his speech, the Speaker of the Parliament of Ukraine also called for unity: "Thanks to yesterday's unity of EU leaders, we are one step closer to full membership in the European Union – and thanks to the unity of the Ukrainian people, we are uniting our efforts in the fight against the aggressor."
"All communities must be united in countering the aggressor. It cannot be that some regions have wartime budgets, while others have peacetime budgets," Ruslan said, calling for honesty and keeping the word of truth: "It is in a professional and honest discussion that we find the solutions necessary for the country."