The conference under the motto "From Solidarity to Transformation: For Ukraine. For Europe." serves as a central platform for the exchange and further development of German-Ukrainian city partnerships - especially in view of the current challenges posed by the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Mayor Unterseh will be accompanied by a member of staff from the Office for International Affairs and Global Sustainability. Also on site are two representatives from Kiel, which - like Bonn - maintains a solidarity partnership with Kherson in southern Ukraine.
The city of Kherson will also be represented by a delegation at the conference: Vitalii Bielobrov, Deputy Mayor, and Tetiana Banshchykova, Head of the Department for International and Intermunicipal Cooperation, are traveling to Münster. Deputy Mayor Bielobrov will take part in a panel discussion on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, on the topic of "Municipal challenges after three years of aggressive war". The Deputy Minister for the Development of Municipalities and Territories of Ukraine and representatives of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Committee of the Regions will take part in the discussion.
Special attention will be paid to a bilateral meeting between Mayor Unterseh and Deputy Mayor Bielobrov, which has been agreed as part of the conference. The aim of the exchange is to further strengthen the solidarity partnership, discuss specific cooperation projects and expand intermunicipal exchange.
Background to the conference
The conference is being organized by Engagement Global's Service Agency Communities in One World (SKEW) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) together with the City of Münster. Support comes from Münster's twin cities Vinnytsia in Ukraine and Lublin in Poland in cooperation with other partners such as the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR).
The conference offers representatives from the now more than 230 German-Ukrainian partnerships a space for exchange, networking and planning joint activities. The focus will be on the current challenges facing Ukrainian municipalities and ways in which German cities and municipalities can support them through solidarity-based cooperation.
Outlook for further activities for Kherson
The cultural theme week "Kherson on Stage - Twin City in the Spotlight" is already being planned as a concrete joint project with Kherson, which will take place in Bonn from August 24 to 30, 2025. This will also make the solidarity partnership visible to the Bonn public in the cultural sphere. Further information will follow.