Meeting with Chernihiv City Council

Kent With Ukraine recently held a meeting with Chernihiv City Council to discuss plans for supporting the people of Chernihiv over the coming year. This meeting marked an important step toward establishing a municipal partnership between Chernihiv City and partners in Kent.

Building a Partnership for Support

Hosted by Nataliia Kholchenkova, Head of International Relations at Chernihiv City Council, discussions focused on how Kent With Ukraine can offer meaningful support to Chernihiv, a city that has faced immense difficulties due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Cllr Jordan Meade expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, “It was such a pleasure to meet-up with Наталія Хольченкова and to discuss securing a British partnership for Chernihiv City. I'm very confident that we can commence this important work. It was incredible to be back in Chernihiv and I can't wait to be back with you all again soon!”

One of the key topics during the meeting was the importance of paradiplomacy. Paradiplomacy refers to the international relations conducted by subnational or regional governments, such as city councils, rather than national governments. In the context of the war in Ukraine, paradiplomacy has become a vital tool for cities like Chernihiv to build international partnerships and secure support. Over the next few weeks Kent With Ukraine will work to secure a lasting partnership for Chernihiv City Council.

Kent With Ukraine’s meeting with Chernihiv City Council sets a positive example of how local governments can collaborate across borders in times of crisis. The partnership we are now working on together will be crafted to provide practical help while building a foundation for future mutural cooperation.