Bad Oldesloe concludes historic partnership with Dniprorudne!

Bad Oldesloe concludes historic partnership with Dniprorudne!

A significant sign of solidarity between Germany and Ukraine will be made today at the “Ukraine Recovery Conference” in Rome. This is where the official cooperation between Bad Oldesloe in the Stormarn district and the Ukrainian community of Dniprorudne is sealed. NDR reports that Hildegard Pontow, the mayor of Bad Oldesloe, is taking this step together with Jens Wieck from the Bad Oldeslo friends group “Town Partnership with Ukraine” and Anton Kozyrev, the head of the Dniprorudne military administration.

The new partnership comes at a time when Dniprorudne has been suffering under Russian occupation since March 2022. Many residents had to flee to the city of Zaporizhzhia, where the municipality is now administered. This desperation and uncertainty in the region is also a theme at the conference in Rome, which aims to discuss and mobilize support for Ukraine.

Support for Ukraine

The conference will discuss Ukraine's urgent needs in times of war. Deutschland.de highlights that donor countries want to create a favorable investment environment for Ukraine. This includes the establishment of a “Business Advisory Council” to support investors in order to promote reconstruction. Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy, takes over the chairmanship.

A central point of the discussions is the training and qualification of Ukrainian specialists. The Skills Alliance for Ukraine aims to support more than 180,000 skilled workers over the next three years, especially young people and internally displaced people. Development Minister Svenja Schulze emphasizes that aid to Ukraine is essential both in times of war and during reconstruction. Ukrainian Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko explains the importance of effective air defense for economic stability and post-war reconstruction.

Partnerships for reconstruction

The challenges for Ukrainian municipalities are enormous. GIZ reports the massive destruction of basic infrastructure and inadequate access to medical care, which further exacerbates the humanitarian situation. Therefore, establishing partnerships between German and Ukrainian municipalities, such as that between Bad Oldesloe and Dniprorudne, is crucial.

Through these collaborations, the aim is not only to strengthen civil protection, but also to put together concrete aid packages. These include, among other things, the provision of medical equipment, vehicles and facilities for vulnerable groups. The Stormarn district shows that smaller communities can also make a contribution to stabilization and reconstruction in Ukraine.

In summary, the Ukraine Recovery Conference shows that many actors, both local and international, are ready to do their part to support Ukraine. It is a powerful sign of hope in the midst of a devastating conflict.