From 6 to 8 May 2025, the fourth annual Cities Mission Conference took place in Vilnius – the EU’s green capital. Under the motto “Harnessing City Successes: Advancing Climate Action for 2030”, the event brought together representatives of cities, European institutions, governments, researchers, and urban practitioners from across Europe.

Organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the Mission Platform, the conference provided a space to reflect on the progress made over the past three years, share successful practices, inspire strong action, and strengthen collaboration in pursuit of a shared goal: enabling European cities to achieve climate neutrality by 2030.

This year, Ukraine made a powerful contribution to the conference. The initiatives SUN4Ukraine and U-CAN were highlighted as examples of resilient innovation driving climate neutrality, even in the context of war. Their implementation showcases Ukraine’s capacity not only to adapt to complex challenges but also to set new benchmarks for sustainable development.

The UniCities project team also joined this European platform for knowledge exchange. On behalf of the consortium, Olga Kordas, Professor of Sustainable Urban Development at KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Sweden) and Director of the Viable Cities initiative, delivered a speech. She expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to share insights and emphasised the enormous potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between academia and Ukrainian as well as European cities involved in the Mission.

Thanks to international events like the Cities Mission Conference 2025, Ukraine’s experience and commitment to climate neutrality are becoming an integral part of the broader European dialogue.

In particular, the UniCities project demonstrates that, despite immense challenges, Ukrainian cities and universities are capable of driving transformation, generating innovation, and building a future where sustainability, safety, and cooperation form the foundation of every decision.

We believe that, together with European partners, Ukraine will not only achieve its climate goals but also set new development standards for all of Europe.

The time to act is now — with confidence, determination, and inspiration.