As part of the 13th session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Azerbaijan, Ambassador of Ukraine Yuriy Husyev, together with Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, participated in the panel discussion “Rebuilding Homes and Futures: Urban Recovery of Kharkiv,” dedicated to the recovery of Kharkiv and other Ukrainian cities, housing, security, and the development of a safe urban environment.

The discussion also featured Olena Shuliak, Chair of the Committee on State Building, Local Governance, Regional Development and Urban Planning of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, representatives of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Kharkiv City Council, academics, urban planners, and international partners.

In his opening remarks, Ambassador of Ukraine Yuriy Husyev expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan and all of Ukraine’s international partners for their support and emphasized that Kharkiv today serves as an example for many cities around the world—an example of strength, unwavering resilience, and responsible leadership. The city demonstrates how, even under the most difficult circumstances, it is possible not only to endure but also to build for the future.

“We do not want simply to return Kharkiv to its pre-war state. Our goal is to create a modern, safe, and comfortable city for people,” emphasized Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.