This article analyses the features, shortcomings, prospects, and limitations of Russia’s national urban policy (NUP) and its international counterparts to formulate proposals for the further development of the Russian NUP. To this end, the study examines international documents and publications on NUP, particularly German ones, and Russian regulatory legal acts. The COVID-19 pandemic has drawn attention to the resilience of cities to crises and the development of urban green spaces. Germany’s current NUP, adopted in 2007, stands out for its complexity and congruence with the regional policy. The Spatial Development Strategy is the principal NUP document in Russia. However, it overlooks some issues essential for the development of the city system: the federal authorities support only selected types of towns, such as single-industry municipalities, and the NUP is not comprehensive as it pays little attention to the economic aspects. A feeble information framework and municipal authorities lacking the powers impede the further development of the NUP. A transition to a comprehensive and well-designed NUP in Russia is proposed, which includes counteracting the concentration of population and economic activity in Moscow and establishing Saint Petersburg as a centre of economic growth. There is also an urgent need to understand the economic development prospects of smaller towns.