President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky called on the United States to sever ties with russian cities. “Tyrants should not be allowed to use the ties with the free world,” he stressed.
Zelensky spoke at the 90th annual conference of mayors of American cities by video link. He called on his audience to sever ties with the so-called “twin cities”, reports The Guardian.
He took as the example Chicago city, which considers Moscow its twin city, as well as tandems of Jacksonville and Murmansk, San Diego and Vladivostok, Albany and Tula.
“Dozens of American cities support the so-called “brotherhood” with the cities of the russian federation. What do these connections give them? Probably nothing. But they give russia the opportunity to say that it is not isolated, even after starting its brutal war,” Zelensky said.
According to him, since russia has begun invading Ukraine, 3,620 settlements have fallen under russian occupation.
"Mariupol was a port city, an industrial center. With a population of half a million people. russia simply destroyed it. Now, there is nothing there but ruins. The same situation with the city of Volnovakha and dozens of other cities that the russian army burns down every day. Burns with bombs, missiles, artillery. Just imagine: since February 24, russia has used almost 2,500 different missiles against Ukraine. The vast majority of them were launched at cities. At cities' infrastructure. And some of the most deadly russian missiles were devised and manufactured in Yekaterinburg. Which, by the way, is still a twin city of San José,” Zelensky said.
Instead, the Ukrainian head of state called on mayors to take part in “the greatest economic project of our time,” helping to rebuild Ukraine after the war.
“I invite all of you, your cities, your companies, your businesses and professionals to take part in this project. You also have a chance to become people who have decided to defend freedom and thus end the history of tyranny,” Zelensky said.
“You can take patronage over a city, district or industry destroyed by the russians and restore them with the help of modern technologies. This may be the largest economic project of our time, which will strengthen Ukraine, as well as each country and each company that will participate in the post-war reconstruction. You have an opportunity to join the implementation of this great project,” said the President.