Press releases

Last Friday, during a video conference with the deputy mayor of Chernihiv, Viktor Herashchenko, the “Agreement on a Regular Sister City Partnership between the City of Chernihiv (Ukraine) and the City of Aachen (Federal Republic of Germany).” At Aachen City Hall, representatives of the association “Ukrainians in Aachen e. V.” were present for the signing of the agreement.

The formal city partnership is intended to build on the close ties that have developed between the two cities under the solidarity partnership agreement signed on May 13, 2023, for a term of three years.

Aachen’s mayor sees many things that unite the two cities: “Aachen is the city where Europe comes to life—where not only Europe’s past but, above all, its future thrives. Ukraine is undoubtedly part of a free, democratic Europe. Through our partnership in the coming years, we want to work together to build connections between people so that we can build a free, democratic Europe together. We share the same values.” For Heraschenko, “the partnership is an important cornerstone for our country that advances democracy, and for that we are very grateful. “We hope for peace so that people can also get to know one another personally.” Ziemons adds: “Their freedom, their peace is our freedom and our peace. We now want to take our cooperation to the next level, because we care about a Western, free, and democratic Europe.”

The purpose of the sister city partnership is to maintain and strengthen existing ties. It aims to promote equal and mutually beneficial bilateral relations as well as sustainable development; to deepen mutual understanding; and to foster friendly relations, mutual support, and cooperation. The cities intend to establish mechanisms for exchange between the two cities.