On 1 March 2022, the City of Melbourne determined that it would suspend its sister city relationship with St Petersburg, Russia, for an indefinite period for the acts of violent aggression by the Russian Government in Ukraine.

All Council support for activities by civic, cultural and community organisations requiring cooperation with the government of St Petersburg, and all formal cooperation between the governments of the sister cities, is suspended.

We ask that the City of Melbourne take a further significant step in solidarity and support of the people of Ukraine who are suffering from the most despicable acts of war in Europe since World War 2. We ask that the City of Melbourne extend a hand of friendship to a Ukrainian City (perhaps Odesa which is a beautiful seaside cultural centre of Ukraine not dissimilar to our Melbourne).

This petition has in principle support of the Ukrainian ambassador to Australia Mr Vasyl Myroshnychenko. Come on Melbourne, make this next symbolic step to tell Mr Putin that Australians will not stand by in silence while he fulfils his sick imperialistic fantasies and destroys the lives of tens of millions of innocent ordinary people.

Dear Lord Mayor Sally Capp, appoint a sister city in Ukraine and send our love for freedom, democracy, decency and freedom to the people of Ukraine who are giving their lives for it.