Statement of the European Committee of the Regions on two years of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine

​24 February 2024 marks the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The following statements were made b​y the President of the European Co​​mmittee of the Regions, the chair of its Working Group on Ukraine, and its rapporteur on the EU's newly approved support package, the Ukraine Facility. 

Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions, said: "Ukraine's local and regional authorities, like every other part of Ukrainian society, have shown remarkable courage, resilience and innovation in the face of Russia's ferocious invasion and daily crimes against Ukraine's population. To see their work, as I have when I went to Ukraine a few months ago, is humbling and inspiring.

"The EU's regions and cities can also be proud of their response, particularly of their efforts to house, school and help Ukrainian displaced people. And many regions and cities have gone further, offering emergency support to Ukrainian local and regional administrations and establishing long-term partnerships.

"The European Committee of the Regions stood with Ukraine since the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion two years ago, and we will stand with Ukraine as long as it takes. We have been the first EU institution to grant pre-observer invitations for local and regional representatives. We have successfully enlarged our programme for Young Elected Politicians to young leaders from Ukraine and offered premises spaces for Ukrainian local and regional authorities in our building.

"We led the creation of the European Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine and we will continue this support and build up our partnerships with Ukrainian local and regional authorities, both when it comes to reconstruction and with capacity-building, on the road to EU accession."

The EU's national leaders on 1 February gave the green light to a €50 billion package of financial support for Ukraine until 2027. The package – known as the Ukraine Facility – is intended to help Ukraine meet its emergency needs and to support its recovery and reconstruction efforts. It includes detailed plans for the implementation of reforms and envisages a significant role for Ukraine's local and regional administrations.

Dario Nardella (IT/PES), mayor of Florence and the CoR's rapporteur on the Ukraine Facility, said: "The Ukraine Facility ensures that local land regional authorities will have a full role in the recovery and reconstruction process. It will help Ukraine continue the highly successful decentralisation reforms that it started in 2015 and embrace a strategy to 'build back better' through a people-centred recovery and transformation that focuses on sustainable development, improves inclusiveness and cohesion and reduces inequalities. As such, the Facility will be a major stepping stone towards Ukraine's accession to the EU." 

Aleksandra Dulkiewicz (PL/EPP), mayor of Gdańsk and the chair of the CoR's Working Group on Ukraine, said: "Over these past two years, Ukraine's local and regional leaders have faced extraordinary challenges and often great danger. I want today to draw particular attention to the five Ukrainian mayors who remain in Russian captivity: Oleksandr Babych, Yevhen Matvieiev, Ihor Kolykkhaiev, Anatolii Siryi, and Oleksii Vynnychenko. They are heroes and symbols of service, courage and determination.

"The way in which local and regional councils have responded to Russia's full-scale invasion has been remarkably effective. They have kept their regions and cities running, they have led their communities, and they working closely with Ukraine's vibrant civil society. This is remarkable, but – for cities like Gdańsk that have been working for a long time with partners in Ukraine – not a surprise, because we saw a real transformation after Russia's invasion in 2014. We strongly encourage regions and cities in the EU to find partners in Ukraine. They need our help, and we can learn from them. Slava Ukraini."

More information: 

Q&A about the Ukraine Facility 
Opinion of the European Committee of the Regions on the Ukraine Facility
Overview of the work of the European Committee of the Regions in solidarity with Ukraine 

The 10-point support package for Ukraine adopted by the European Committee of the Regions
Working Group on Ukraine of the European Committee of the Regions​