Finnish municipalities rapidly expand sister city ties with Ukraine

Finnish municipalities are establishing new sister city relationships with various Ukrainian locations following the start of the Russian invasion.

The Finnish Association of Local Authorities and Regions says Finnish municipalities now have at least 30 sister city ties in Ukraine, a sharp increase from only three such ties before 2022. This trend follows a period where the practice of sister city cooperation in Finland had been declining and nearly faded away.

Currently, Finnish municipalities maintain approximately 900 sister city relationships across the world. Laura Parsama, the head of international affairs at the Finnish Association of Local Authorities and Regions, says these agreements represent a commitment to long-term cooperation and solidarity. Finnish municipalities provide concrete aid to these partners, including vehicles, medical supplies, clothing, and generators. These relationships also create pathways for Finnish companies to participate in Ukraine's reconstruction.

Parsama notes that Finnish municipalities find the resilience and preparedness expertise in Ukraine very interesting. The city of Jyväskylä recently decided to sign a sister city agreement with Chernivtsi, a city in western Ukraine. The cooperation began after Chernivtsi mayor Roman Klichukin contacted Jyväskylä this summer. The city of Kuopio also plans to sign an agreement with Chernivtsi to coordinate cooperation and organize alternating visits.

Jyväskylä allocated about 10,000 euros of its 13,000 euro annual sister city budget to the partnership with Chernivtsi for the coming year.