Prime Minister praises powerful support given to Ukraine by city of Bath
Sir Keir Starmer says he supports similar initiatives across the country.
On 25th February, the Prime Minister commended the Friendship Agreement between Bath and Oleksandriya in the House of Commons and encouraged similar initiatives across the country.
In 2023, Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES) Council entered into a Friendship Agreement with Oleksandriya City Council to provide medical support and strengthen cultural ties between the cities.
The agreement has since fostered a strong sense of solidarity between the communities, highlighted during Bath’s recent ‘Together we Stand’ concert which raised funds for aid to directly support Oleksandriya.
In the House of Commons on 25th February, Wera Hobhouse, the MP for Bath, highlighted these connections to the Prime Minister and commended the “people-to-people contact” that B&NES had formed with the city of Oleksandriya.
She also reiterated praise the Ukrainian Deputy Ambassador had given for the Friendship Agreement during the ‘Together we Stand’ concert which marked the third anniversary since Russia's full-scale invasion.
The Bath MP asked the Prime Minister what the government could do to encourage other councils to form bonds with Ukrainian communities.
He praised Bath’s Friendship Agreement, saying he was pleased to hear about the important people-to-people contact it had created and supported similar initiatives across the country.
Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath, said: “It’s fantastic to have the Prime Minister’s support for our Friendship Agreement with Oleksandriya.
“I’m proud of my Bath and North East Somerset Council for their important work to create these bonds.
"Bath’s strong ties with the people of Ukraine have been invaluable, providing crucial support and people-to-people contact through some of the darkest times.
“That’s why I am pushing him to ensure that councils across the country follow in our city’s footsteps to form similar links with Ukrainian communities.”
Lib Dem Leader, Cllr Kevin Guy, commented: “Bath and North East Somerset is proud to stand in solidarity with the people of Oleksandriya and Ukraine as a whole.
"Recently, I was very glad to meet the deputy chief of mission at the Embassy of Ukraine, Eduard Fesko, and Zhenya Shkil of The Friends of Oleksandryia, ahead of the concert of Ukrainian music organised at Bath Abbey to mark the third anniversary of the Russian invasion.
"Now more than ever, we must continue to stand with Ukraine and defend democracy.”