Within the framework of the Swedish-Ukrainian Municipal Partnership Forum, on May 20, 2025, Ivano-Frankivsk (Ukraine) and Luleå (Sweden) officially became partner cities. The partnership was made possible by the initiative Cities4Cities, which is part of the Polaris programme.

”The partnership between Luleå and Ivano-Frankivsk feels both meaningful and hopeful. At a time when Ukraine is subjected to a brutal war of aggression, it is more important than ever that we stand up for cooperation, solidarity, and human rights. Together, we can learn from one another and build a stronger future – and Luleå has much to gain from Ivano-Frankivsk’s experiences, not least in terms of civil preparedness and crisis management”, says Daniel Smirat, Chair of the Municipal Council.

The Mayor of the Ivano-Frankivsk Ruslan Marcinkiv says:

"During this time of war, it is especially important to have reliable friends who help us live and work despite the unjust Russian aggression. A strong home front is essential to our ability to support our defenders."

The main areas of partnership include:

• culture;
• urban development;
• information technology;
• sports;
• small and medium-sized business development and startup support;
• civil preparedness;
• waste and water management.

With financing from Sida, SALAR International is organising the Municipal Partnership Forum in collaboration with Cities4Cities, within the Polaris Programme in Ukraine. The event is being implemented by the Cities4Cities initiative, which is part of the programme. In total, during the forum, Ukraine and Sweden established and deepened 11 partnerships between municipalities.