Potsdam has had a tenth city twinning since Saturday. The contract with the city of Ivano-Frankivsk was signed on site this morning by Mayor Mike Schubert and Pete Heuer (both SPD) as chairmen of the city council and Ruslan Martsinkiv, Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk. In the evening, the name Potsdam was already hanging on a pillar with the names of the western Ukrainian city’s partner cities on the market square.
As reported, Potsdam’s city councilors gave the green light for the new partnership with a large majority in November 2022. Potsdam and Ivano-Frankivsk, which is named after one of the most important Ukrainian writers, have a few things in common: Ivano-Frankivsk is also a large university city, has a lively art and culture scene and has exciting architecture with historical as well as modern buildings. The city, including the associated surrounding settlements, has around 290,000 inhabitants and has grown dynamically in recent years. It is located in the northern Carpathian foothills.
The partnership came about under the impression of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which characterizes everyday life in the city. “The sealing of a town twinning with a Ukrainian city is of course primarily a sign of solidarity in these times,” said Schubert after the signing of the contract. Nevertheless, it is particularly important to maintain active and lively partnerships. Even if there are no long-term contacts with Ivano-Frankivsk, there is already a good basis for future cooperation. “I’m impressed by how committed the networks of both cities are and what connections have already been made,” continued Schubert.
Initial contacts have already been made between Potsdam and Ivano-Frankivsk, particularly in the academic and medical fields. These were caused, among other things, by the sending of relief supplies to Ukraine, it said. Ivano-Frankivsk is also the sister city of the Polish city of Opole, which is also connected to Potsdam. The aim is to build up and intensify relations in a town twinning triangle.
The delivery of a Potsdam fire engine for the fire brigade was announced as the first concrete help. The vehicle was last used by the volunteer fire brigade in Bornstedt. It is to be brought to Ivano-Frankivsk with the next planned aid transport of the state fire brigade association, probably at the beginning of July.
The Potsdam delegation arrived on Saturday night and is scheduled to return on Monday. Schubert and Heuer are accompanied by Potsdam’s building councilor Bernd Rubelt (independent), by Professor Alexander Wöll, who teaches culture and literature of Central and Eastern Europe at the University of Potsdam, and by Matthias Richter, historian and project manager of the transnational project “Remembrance Learning” of the Jewish community Düsseldorf and Isabell Sommer, who is responsible for international relations in the mayor’s office.
