This is an archived article and the information in the article may be out of date. Please look at the timestamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
The Los Angeles City Council voted on Friday to start the process to make Kyiv, Ukraine’s war-torn capital, a sister city.
The council voted 14-0 on a motion by council member Joe Buscaino, who said he wanted to send a message to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.
“Mr. Mayor, we see you. We honor you. We know today that you are doing everything you can to protect your city, to protect your people, and we know that this twinning relationship is the last of your concerns. But, Mayor, know that the City of Los Angeles is here for you.
Buscaino called Russia’s invasion of Ukraine an “assault on humanity.”
The motion noted that formalizing a sister city relationship normally takes about a year, including meetings between citizens and the two governments.
Because this is currently not possible with Kyiv, the relationship will be formalized in the future. In the meantime, a steering committee including members of the Ukrainian community in Los Angeles will be formed, Buscaino said.
In addition to symbolism, the designation allows for practical support such as the donation of surplus municipal equipment.
Among the existing ones in LA sister cities is Saint Petersburg, Russia. The relationship dates back to 1984.
Comments are closed.