UWC Vice President meets Ukrainian mayors in UAE to advance city partnerships

Yevheniy Semenov, Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) for Middle East and Central Asia, held talks with Ukrainian mayors and deputy city heads on the sidelines of the 2025 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum, held this year at Expo City in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Discussions centered on post-war recovery, investment opportunities, and deeper collaboration between Ukrainian municipalities and international partners.

Semenov reported that discussions took place with the city managers of Sumy, Poltava, Vasylkiv, Chortkiv, and Zhmerynka.

“We discussed ways to strengthen the resilience of Ukrainian communities and explored opportunities for support from the global Ukrainian community — particularly through the UWC’s Energize Ukraine initiative,” Semenov said.

He also said that the meetings were held in the spirit of the Year of Global Ukrainian Unity, which the UWC declared 2026 during its Annual General Assembly on Oct. 25.

“Together, through shared efforts — for a prosperous Ukraine!” Semenov said.

In addition to Ukrainian city leaders, the summit included business representatives and cultural groups. The Ukrainian delegation highlighted the investment potential of local communities, post-war reconstruction experiences, and collaborative projects in green technology, energy efficiency, education, and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

The event helped strengthen international relations, expand business and cultural connections, and promote Ukrainian culture and investment opportunities in the UAE.

For context, the UWC held its Annual General Assembly online, with 185 delegates and guests from 48 countries participating. The event’s theme this year was “United for Ukraine.”