International mayors gather in Bratislava to discuss resisting government pressure and maintaining city autonomy

Mayors from major cities including Kyiv, Budapest, Amsterdam, and Minneapolis convened in Bratislava for the Free Cities Pact summit to discuss strategies for maintaining municipal independence. The gathering brought together municipal leaders facing various challenges from their national governments, military pressures, and disinformation campaigns. The summit focused on how cities can preserve their autonomy and democratic values when confronted with hostile forces, whether from opposing armies or their own central governments.