Brentwood Borough Council will look to twin with a Ukrainian town once the war with Russia has come to an end. 

In a motion unanimously adopted by the council last week, the authority stated it “resolves to investigate the possibility of twinning with a town of comparable size in Ukraine once the current war in that country has been resolved and Ukraine is a free nation, once more”. 

The intention, it continues, would be to undertake “cultural and economic exchanges, explore business opportunities and demonstrate a general desire to help the people of that district/town to rebuild structurally and economically for their future”. 

There are already a number of links between communities in the UK and Ukraine, including Sheffield and Donetsk, and Edinburgh and Kyiv. 

Cllr David Kendall (Lib Dem, Pilgrims Hatch), said: “I think if we make a general commitment that we want to link up with a town when the time is right, and hopefully that will be when the Russians are no longer in that country, I think it will be a very positive thing. 

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“And I think if people in our community can actually see practical things that we’re able to do to help these people in a specific town as I say it will bring the thing to life. It will make sure that there’s continued ongoing commitment.” 

Council leader, Cllr Chris Hossack, added: “We all accept that by and large Ukrainian towns are somewhat preoccupied at the moment. 

“But at the appropriate time then definitely we should do it. But I don’t think that prevents us right now from reaching out to our Ukrainian community in Brentwood saying we’d like to do it.

"If you wanted to nominate something that was appropriate, I have no issue with it at all.”