Since the start of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the number of German-Ukrainian town twinnings has more than doubled. In addition to acute help, there are also similarities in culture and history.
Sviahel is located between Lviv and Kiev, about 56,000 people live here. The city has only recently been given its historical name again. The Russians renamed it Novograd-Volynskij in 1793. Ukraine reversed that at the end of last year.
There are around 1,700 kilometers between Swjahel and Ludwigshafen am Rhein. Nevertheless, there has been a lively exchange between the two cities for a long time. This has mainly to do with Valentyna Sobetska. The chairwoman of the association “Children’s Aid Ukraine – Rhein-Neckar for Novograd-Volynskij” has lived in Ludwigshafen for ten years. She has been collecting donations for the needy in her Ukrainian hometown for almost as long. Your association has already initiated many aid projects. A few weeks ago, a bus for transporting disabled people in Ukraine was handed over.
Under the impression of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, the Ludwigshafen city council made the decision last December to cast the exchange that had already taken place in an official partnership. From the town hall it is said that this is a clear sign of solidarity: “Ludwigshafen and Swjahel together stand for peace and freedom, for humanity, international law and democracy.”
Material help and plans for reconstruction
Since the start of the Russian war of aggression, the number of partnerships between German and Ukrainian cities has more than doubled. According to the German Association of Cities, there are currently 167 formalized and non-formalized partnerships nationwide. A partnership is considered formalized when both sides have signed a corresponding document. If this is not the case, one usually speaks of a solidarity partnership.
At the moment, material and humanitarian aid for the people in the Ukrainian cities is still the priority, says Helmut Dedy, general manager of the German Association of Cities. At the same time, however, there were plans for reconstruction – for schools, hospitals, apartments, transport links.
Within the framework of project partnerships, German cities carry out municipal development policy. The city of Cologne, for example, in Dnipro. The partnership focuses, among other things, on the areas of water supply and sewage. The Cologne municipal sewage works, for example, are also involved in this.
The cities are supported by the “Municipalities in One World” service point. On behalf of the federal government, this organization organizes, among other things, trips by German delegations to Ukraine, provides interpreters, subsidizes aid projects and conducts German-Ukrainian partnership conferences.
Shaded: territories occupied by Russia
Exchange for town twinning
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a project or town twinning: How do you find the right counterpart? Trier is currently facing this question. The city council there recently spoke out in favor of examining the partnership with a Ukrainian city – the desire for this came from associations that have been supporting people in Ukraine since the beginning of the war.
According to its own statements, the city administration has contacted the Ukrainian ambassador and the city council, among others. In addition, one examines whether a partnership with the city of Ternopil makes sense. Almost 500 citizens signed a corresponding proposal and passed it on to the city. Most of the signatories appear to be from Ukraine themselves.
According to the state government of Rhineland-Palatinate, town twinnings with the Ukraine usually result from existing private connections. However, there is also a kind of exchange for it. The Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR) lists partnership requests from all over the world on its website. This shows that 35 Ukrainian municipalities, cities and regions are currently looking for German partners. Profiles tell you, among other things, where they are, how many people live there and how the economy is doing.
Similarities are important for the partnership
CEMR advises cities to take their time when voting. It is important that there are at least some similarities. Such as the number of inhabitants, the geographical location or the history. In addition, it should be clarified in advance whether the same goals and ideas are being pursued. Once the decision has been made, CEMR can also provide templates and examples for partnership contracts and agreements.
Koblenz is about to conclude a partnership with Ivano-Frankivsk. Both university towns have a long history, and tourism plays a major role for both in times of peace. The partnership should start in the field of culture. For example, representatives of museums and music schools will exchange information on a regular basis.
Head of the culture department Margit Theis-Scholz says that after the war one would certainly benefit from Ivano-Frankivsk’s expertise and international connections. And we can already learn from the people in Ivano-Frankivsk today. For example, how not to lose courage and the will to fight despite the most adverse circumstances.