Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak met with President of the Association of Mayors of France, Mayor of Cannes David Lisnard.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Heads of the Presidential Office Andriy Sybiha and Oleksiy Kuleba.
Andriy Yermak expressed gratitude to David Lisnard for his personal role in intensifying the efforts of French cities to support Ukraine. In particular, on March 9, 2022, after the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Mayor of Cannes visited Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk, accompanying a humanitarian cargo.
"I am grateful for the joint efforts of the Association of Mayors of France and the French Civil Protection to supply humanitarian aid to Ukraine and your initiative to transfer power generators for the needs of Ukrainian cities," the Head of the Presidential Office said.
Andriy Yermak also thanked for the attention paid to Ukraine at the 104th Congress of Mayors and Heads of Municipalities of France, which took place on November 22-24, 2022 in Paris, as well as for the opportunity to speak on behalf of our country at this important event.
The Head of the Presidential Office emphasized that postwar reconstruction remains a key issue for Ukraine. A patronage model was proposed to restore regions, cities, towns and villages.
"This is a chance for Ukraine to modernize, but at the same time it is a platform for testing new French technologies, approaches and solutions," he said.
Andriy Yermak emphasized that Ukraine is a new huge market that French companies can enter with the prospect of long-term partnership and cooperation.
"I invite all French cities to find their place in this promising market. This is not about charity. This is an opportunity to get contracts in the market of a country with a population of 40 million. I am convinced that it is interesting," said the Head of the Presidential Office.
He also asked David Lisnard to facilitate the establishment of sister-city and partnership relations between French and Ukrainian cities.
"I know that last year the Association of Mayors of France, headed by you, established a partnership with the city of Irpin. You are in constant contact with the Embassy of Ukraine in France, and our diplomats will be ready to hand over new partnership proposals to you," said Andriy Yermak.
He also called on the network of the Association of Mayors of France to join the United Cities for the Future summit to be held in Kyiv in late March - early April 2023. This event will aim to engage foreign partners in the implementation of projects to restore Ukraine at the regional level and to intensify international cooperation of Ukrainian regions and cities.