Wednesday 13th, September
Berlin and Kyiv to become twin cities in ceremony on Thursday
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, will be travelling to Berlin on September 14th for an official ceremony to mark the establishment of Berlin and Kyiv as twin cities. The signing of the partnership agreement will take place at the Rotes Rathaus.
The cities’ twinning was decided on in the coalition agreement between the CDU and SPD as a sign of support and solidarity with Ukraine. The previous Senate, under former Governing Mayor Franziska Giffey (SPD), had rejected a city partnership with Kiev.
Berlin had been a partner city with Moscow since 1991, but unsurprisingly has frozen its relationship with the Russian capital since the start of the war. Tel Aviv is also set to become a a partnered city with Berlin.
The twin city concept came about after the end of WWII in order to bring European countries together. Twinned cities mostly share cultural events, such as administrative exchanges and urban development summits.
