Mayors from Kyiv, Budapest, Amsterdam and Minneapolis gather in Bratislava for Free Cities Pact summit

Bratislava hosted a summit of the Free Cities Pact, bringing together mayors from major cities including Kyiv's Vitali Klitschko, Budapest's Gergely Karácsony, and leaders from Amsterdam and Minneapolis. The summit focused on how cities can maintain autonomy and resist pressure from both hostile governments and external forces including disinformation campaigns. The Free Cities Pact represents an international network of municipal leaders who seek to preserve democratic values and local governance in the face of various challenges, from authoritarian pressure to military threats. Discussions centered on strategies for cities to remain independent while dealing with conflicts involving their own national governments, foreign military forces, and organized disinformation efforts.