Following pressure from the AFUO, the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria and the Melbourne Ukrainian community, the City of Melbourne has terminated its sister-city agreement with St Petersburg.
The Deputy Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Nicholas Reece, made the announcement following a Council meeting today saying ‘“We do this as a symbol of our outrage at Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion against the people of Ukraine”.
The councillors met with members of the Ukrainian community who had gathered at the Melbourne Town Hall from 4pm to voice their anger that the City of Melbourne was continuing to suspend – and not cancel – the agreement.
Stefan Romaniw OAM, Co-Chair of the Australian Federation of Organisations (AFUO), said today “The City of Melbourne has sent a clear message to Russia that its brutal and genocidal war against Ukraine is unacceptable.”
“Just last night there was another massive missile barrage against Kyiv as it prepared to mark its founding 1,541 years ago. Pure terror was unleashed on civilians. Footage shows young children, running for bomb shelters, screaming and distressed.
“Thankfully the City of Melbourne stood with Ukraine – not St Petersburg. The council showed some courage and ended the sister-city agreement.
“We know that many Melbournians supported us. They told us as Australians they wanted Melbourne to stand up for what’s right, for the rule of law, for peace and justice,” he added.
The AFUO has suggested the City of Melbourne could also send a powerful message of support for Ukraine by considering a sister-city relationship with Odesa, Ukraine.
