The capital cities of Ireland and Ukraine have signed an agreement to begin a twinning process.
The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy, signed the Dublin Kyiv Twinning Agreement with Head of the Kyiv City State Mykola Povoroznyk during a visit to Brussels.
The signing gives effect to an emergency motion passed at a Dublin City Council meeting on March 7th to express the solidarity of the people of Dublin with the people of Kyiv.
The two cities will work on ways in which Dublin can express its solidarity with the people of Kyiv, and how it will support the Irish Government in its humanitarian work with refugees from Kyiv.
The cities will also work together on identifying areas where they can strengthen and develop common interests and solutions.
Lord Mayor of Dublin Caroline Conroy and the First Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Mykola Povoroznyk signing the Dublin Kyiv Twinning Agreement in Brussels, Belgium. Picture: Dublin City CouncilThe agreement includes the wish for development and cooperation in a wide range of economic, cultural, tourism and other areas of mutual benefit.
The cities will also endeavour to provide mutual support in emergency situations, by providing humanitarian assistance and political support.
Lord Mayor Conroy said: "I am delighted that we can now officially begin the process of twinning with the city of Kyiv.
"I met with Mykola Povoroznyk today and conveyed to him the support of the people of Dublin.
"I know everyone in Dublin, and indeed across the country, hopes that this unjust war will be brought to an end as soon as possible. Our thoughts are with our friends in Kyiv."
The signing of a formal twinning agreement facilitates the setting up of a long-term, trusting relationship.
Its form and content are not fixed and can be amended depending on the specific nature of the partnership.
Dublin has previously signed twinning agreements with San Jose (1986), Liverpool (1997), Barcelona (1998) and Beijing (2010).
