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21.05.2025
Ukraine and Sweden launch 11 new municipal partnerships
On May 20-21, Sweden hosted the Second Swedish-Ukrainian Forum on Municipal Partnerships. Two agreements were signed during the forum: between Ivano-Frankivsk and Luleå, and between Chuhuiv and Danderyd. In total, Ukraine and Sweden established and deepened 11 partnerships between municipalities during the forum.
This was the second forum dedicated to cooperation between municipalities in both countries. The first, held in June 2023, laid the foundation for cooperation. Today, there are more than 40 active Swedish-Ukrainian partnerships.
“Ukrainian local authorities and communities are very grateful for the assistance and donation from Sweden, at the same time we are now building mutually beneficial partnership. Because of our everyday experience of resilience – we will become providers of new knowledge – knowledge which we are ready to share with all our Swedish friends”, — said Andrii Plakhotniuk, Ambassador of Ukraine to Sweden.
Among the forum participants were 11 Swedish-Ukrainian municipal partnerships: Vänersborg – Yampil, Helsingborg – Vinnytsia, Gotland – Beryslav, Danderyd – Chuhuiv, Örebro – Kharkiv, Eslöv – Khotyn, Karlskoga – Shepetivka, Kristianstad – Uman, Luleå – Ivano-Frankivsk, Norrköping – Kherson, and Uppsala – Lviv.
Some of these municipalities met in person for the first time. Others already have experience working together, have exchanged visits, and even met in de-occupied territories of Ukraine. Several Ukrainian mayors will travel to their Swedish counterparts immediately after the forum for working visits.
“This forum celebrates your leadership and collaboration. Whether you are just beginning your collaboration or already implementing projects together, you are helping to lay the foundation for a resilient, democratic and European Ukraine. We´re here to celebrate that work – and to support you as you take the next steps”, — said Ryan Knox, Managing Director of SALAR International.
The forum is not just an official program. It is a lively dialogue about how cooperation at the municipal level can bring real results. One of the key discussions was a panel on why Swedish communities want to learn from Ukrainian ones, particularly in the areas of digitalization, crisis response, and mobilization of community resources.
“In Cities4Cities’ experience, the most sustainable partnerships are those that are equal. Ukraine is very strong in digitalization and sustainability, for example. Communities in our network are already teaching Europeans how to prepare for blackouts, crisis management, and child safety in schools. In return, Ukrainian communities do not expect a generator from the partnership — they need experience on the path to European integration, and they are also ready to share their,” said Svitlana Blinova, coordinator of the Cities4Cities initiative.
“On behalf of SALAR, I wish you the very best of success in your partnerships – here at this forum, and in all the important work ahead. Ukrainian friends, please remember this: you are not alone – and you will never be. Every Swedish municipality and region stands firmly by your side,” said Martin Homberg, SALAR.
Two memorandums of cooperation was signed during the forum: between Danderyd (Sweden) and Chuhuiv (Ukraine), and between Luleå (Sweden) and Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine).
With financing from Sida, SALAR International is organising the Municipal Partnership Forum in collaboration with Cities4Cities, within the Polaris programme in Ukraine.
Background
Until 2022, the only active partnership between a Ukrainian and a Swedish municipality was a Gotland with the village of Zmiivka (now part of Beryslav community in Kherson region)— the only historic Swedish settlement in Ukraine. However, it was only after the start of the full-scale war that municipal relations evolved into a systemic form of cooperation. It was at that point that the Cities4Cities initiative emerged — a bridge between Ukrainian and European municipalities. As of today, with the support of SALAR International, Cities4Cities has facilitated the creation of more than 70 Ukraine-EU municipal partnerships.
Cities4Cities
The international initiative linking Ukrainian and EU municipalities to build partnerships and to exchange experiences. Co-founded by SALAR International, Cities4Cities is now part of the Polaris Programme.
Polaris Programme (2024–2028)
Implemented by SALAR International, the programme supports multilevel governance and local authorities in Ukraine, facilitates EU integration, and assists municipalities in leading recovery.
SALAR International
A part of the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SALAR), working globally to strengthen local self-government and democracy through capacity-building and international cooperation. Building on SALARs expertise and Swedish experiences on local self governance and decentralisation. SALAR International design and implement projects with context-specific solutions to challenges and realities in partner countries.