The deal was signed by Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko and Wrocław Mayor Jacek Sutryk during a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Klitschko hailed the agreement as “historic,” while Sutryk said the twinning was “an honour” for his city.
It’s also another step on Ukraine’s path to European integration, officials said.
‘Wrocław has become a second home for many Ukrainians’
Wrocław's Sutryk said that, in the wake of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, “Wrocław has become a second home for many Ukrainians.”
Sutryk added: “Before the war, there were 100,000 Ukrainians living in Wrocław. Now the Ukrainian community totals 200,000, including many people from Kyiv and the Kyiv region.”
He also said that his city's relations with Ukraine were "valuable" and that Poles and Ukrainians "have been able to build a single, strong community."
'We will never forget this help': Kyiv’s Klitschko
Meanwhile, Kyiv’s Klitschko said: “I would like to reiterate my thanks to Wrocław and Mayor Sutryk for your support to Kyiv, for humanitarian and economic assistance.”
He added: “Since the start of the Russian invasion, Wrocław has welcomed 150,000 Ukrainian refugees, including 80,000 children. Thanks to the generators received from you, we have survived the winter. We will never forget this help.”
Klitschko declared: “Today we are signing an extremely important and historic agreement with Wrocław. Long live Poland, long live Ukraine.”
Sutryk responded: “Thank you again Vitali for your beautiful words. We have the greatest respect for the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people. Here in Wrocław we are aware that this war is not just about a free and independent Ukraine. It’s a war for a free and independent Europe, devoid of dictators.”
He added: “Here in Wrocław you have, and will always have, friends and allies, who in the future will also help you rebuild your country.”
Urban development, tourism, education
Under the partnership agreement, Wrocław will provide assistance to Kyiv to help the Ukrainian capital amid the Russian invasion.
After the war, both cities plan to work together in urban development, public transport, environmental protection, education, including joint projects between universities, tourism and culture, the PAP news agency reported.
Economic and cultural ties, postwar reconstruction
After Wednesday’s ceremony, Klitschko announced the partnership agreement with Wrocław on the Telegram social messaging app.
He wrote: “The Kyiv authorities on Wednesday signed a cooperation with Wrocław, a city which has so far welcomed 150,000 Ukrainian citizens fleeing the Russian invasion, including 80,000 children.”
Klitschko added that both cities would develop “economic and cultural cooperation” and Wrocław would later also take part “in the rebuilding of the infrastructure of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities destroyed during the war.”
According to some estimates, Wrocław is home to 250,000 Ukrainians and around 20,000 Ukrainian children attend local schools.
In December 2021, Ukraine opened a Consulate General in the city, the wroclaw.pl website reported.
Thursday is day 386 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, wroclaw.pl, samorzad.pap.pl
