Igor Terekhov met with the newly elected mayor of Strasbourg
Mayor Ihor Terekhov met today, April 2, with the newly elected mayor of Strasbourg, Catherine Trottmann, during a working visit to France.
The parties discussed strengthening inter-municipal ties, providing assistance to Ukrainian communities near the front lines, and implementing joint initiatives amid the war.
The meeting participants focused on issues of energy resilience, modernization of transportation infrastructure, cultural exchange, and maintaining normal life in Kharkiv despite constant enemy attacks.
Drawing on her many years of experience working in European institutions, Catherine Trotman outlined effective mechanisms for engaging international programs for reconstruction. She assured the French municipality of its readiness to strengthen cooperation through specific educational and urban development projects.
Ihor Terekhov expressed gratitude to France for its comprehensive assistance and emphasized that today’s relations between the cities have evolved into a shared responsibility for Europe’s future.
“Today, Kharkiv is a stronghold in the fight for democracy in Europe. We live under constant shelling, but the city does not stop. Hospitals, transportation, and schools are operating. And that is why it is important for us not just to receive support, but to build lasting, meaningful partnerships with European cities. “Thank you to France and to you personally for this support - political, financial, and humanitarian,” emphasized Ihor Terekhov.
In turn, Catherine Trotman noted the resilience of Kharkiv’s residents, adding that integration with Eastern European communities is now of exceptional importance for the entire continent.
“We fully understand what Ukraine is going through, and it is important to me personally to be part of this support. Strasbourg is ready to develop cooperation with Kharkiv in the areas of culture, transportation, and energy. We already have a foundation to build on, and I am convinced that together we will be able to implement concrete projects that will yield practical results,” she noted.
At the end of the meeting, the participants noted the importance of the agreement signed last year between the Kharkiv City Council, the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, and the cities of Strasbourg and Kehl, which serves as a solid foundation for further systematic work.
