Councillor calls for Dublin to be twinned with Kiev

A Dublin councillor is calling for Dublin to become twinned with the Ukraine capital Kiev.

Fine Gael Councillor James Geoghegan says that in response to the ongoing situation in Ukraine, mayors from Florence and Leipzig, Tallinn and Warsaw have all expressed solidarity as twinned cities with the capital of Ukraine and ‘Dublin should follow their lead.’

“Dublin is already twinned with St. Petersburg in Russia and Beijing in China, and we should leave no doubt as to our capital city’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity,” he said.

“The 2016 census recorded over 3,000 Ukrainian nationals living in Ireland but there are likely many more now who work and live in Dublin City.”

The twinning of Dublin is a decision that elected councillors can take by way of a vote, says Cllr Geoghegan.

“I have written to the Lord Mayor asking for her support in engaging with the Mayor of Kyiv to arrange a twinning agreement between the two cities and I will be submitting a motion in March.

“The European Union is united in their opposition to Russian threats to Ukraine, and as a country we should be at the forefront of leading support for an independent Ukraine that is free from the threat of invasion.”