Representatives from the Ukrainian Embassy met with City of York Council leaders to discuss how York can continue its support of Ukraine. The meeting reaffirmed York’s commitment to the local Ukrainian community, in the third year of fighting since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
As part of the Homes for Ukraine scheme, 223 York households have opened their doors to refugees fleeing the war. The 419 Ukrainians who have arrived in the city have been provided fiscal, social and housing help by the Council and Homes for Ukraine team.
During the meeting, which occurred last Wednesday at the Council’s West Offices headquarters, Councillor Claire Douglas (Leader of City of York Council) highlighted York’s continued support for its Ukrainian community, particularly those who arrived fleeing conflict.
The meeting also worked to reinforce York’s ties with the city of Lviv, following a 2022 council motion. Lviv is an important UNESCO World Heritage Site, like York, and home to over 700,000 people.
Cllr Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council, said:
“It was a privilege to welcome Mr Yurkin and Ms Pylypchuk to York this week to discuss our ongoing support for the Ukrainian community here and deepen our relationship with Lviv in the spirit of solidarity and friendship.”
This meeting comes in the wake of Liberal councillors, Cllr Darryl Smalley and Cllr Chris Cullwick, criticising the Labour Council because the process to make Lviv York’s sister city remains unfinished. This relationship would ensure long-term exchange of culture, education and business between the two cities.
Oleksandr Yurkin, Head of Consular Section at the Embassy of Ukraine in London, said:
“We are deeply grateful for the solidarity shown by the people of York and look forward to growing our relationship through shared understanding, cultural exchange, and future cooperation between York and Lviv.”
Mr Yurkin also emphasised that: “Our visit to York and meeting with City of York Council leaders was a powerful reminder of the strength of international partnerships in times of crisis.”
President Trump’s administration has reduced the cost of assistance to Kyiv to an estimated $100bn from $300bn, Bloomberg News reports. French President Macron is currently hosting discussions between the US and Ukraine in Paris. European diplomats want to urge the US to put more pressure on Russia to agree to an unconditional ceasefire.
In the 1,148 days since the war began, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) estimates that over 12,900 Ukrainian civilians have been killed.