Zelensky Calls on US Mayors to Sever Ties with Russian Sister Cities

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged US mayors to cut ties with Russian sister cities. This statement was made during Zelensky's video address at a conference with US mayors on Friday, as reported by The New York Times.

“What do these connections provide you? Probably nothing, but they allow Russia to claim that it is not isolated,” the president said.

According to The New York Times, officials from Portland, which has Arkhangelsk as a sister city, referred to a statement from the sister cities international program when asked for comments. The statement indicates that severing or halting sister city relations with the Russian partner should not be a response by cities to the Ukraine special operation. Other officials from cities that Zelensky addressed did not provide comments to the newspaper.

It was noted that earlier, authorities in San Jose expressed intentions to maintain sister city relations with Yekaterinburg. Meanwhile, the websites for sister cities of San Diego and Jacksonville still list Vladivostok and Murmansk as their respective sister cities.