Glasgow bids for twinning agreement with Ukrainian city

The city council cancelled a partnership with the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don last month after Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Council leader Susan Aitken condemned the “unprovoked war of aggression” and reiterated Glasgow would welcome refugees from Ukraine.

Speaking at a full council meeting last week, she said: “Ukrainian cities, towns and villages have been bombed into rubble. Streets and homes and public buildings destroyed.

“Hospitals have been targeted as have buildings being used by civilians for shelter. We must call these war crimes what they are, acts of evil fuelled by the totalitarian fervour of a leader who will stop at nothing in his determination to create a new imperialist order.”

Councillors agreed to a motion put forward by the council leader, which also reaffirmed “support for and belief in the power of international city-to-city friendships.”

Councillor Aitken added: “It’s easy to feel powerless in these circumstances and in truth, Glasgow City Council can only do so much, but we will do what we can. Not only because that’s what the tradition of our proudly internationalist city demands but also because we too are democrats.

“The decision to suspend the twinning arrangement with Rostov-on-Don may be symbolic, but it is an important symbol. Rostov is not just any Russian city, its leadership is a bulwark of Putinism and has used the city as a launchpad for strikes on Ukraine.

“With the end of one relationship can come the start of another, one that in time could provide practical friendship and support to a recovering Ukrainian city. We can start preparing for that now even if we do not yet know when that relationship will begin.”

Councillor Jen Layden, the city’s convener for equalities and human rights, added: “Glasgow has a strong track record in refugee resettlement and we always go above and beyond to support and accommodate anyone fleeing persecution and we will do so again with those coming from Ukraine.

“The UK Government really has to step up to the plate. The requirement for visas must be waived to ensure that we can support people as quickly as we can.”

Adjustments to the motion were made by the Labour and Green groups on the council. Councillor Jane Morgan, Labour, said: “We should clearly distinguish the leadership of the Russian Federation as instigators of the war from the wider population.”

She wanted to make clear Glasgow’s commitment to all refugees and asylum seekers.

Councillor Morgan said: “The Ukraine conflict is perhaps easier to understand than that in Syria for example, some may also feel less cultural distance than those from Afghanistan.”

“But as a local authority we must make every effort to provide the necessary support to all refugees where, of course, we have the powers to do so.”

Councillor Kim Long, Greens, said: “Over the past five years, it has been my privilege to hear many stories of war and trauma from refugees.

“However, it is clear to me that the human dignity and resilience are the same and the need for adequate refugee protection, housing, dignity, education, food security, family unification and the right to work are all the same.

“It is dangerous and unfair to treat refugees differently according to which conflict or violence they are fleeing. It is dangerous and unfair to treat refugees differently according to how they manage to escape.”