Ukrainian president calls out Jacksonville for ties to Russian city

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The spotlight is on Jacksonville after the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, called the city out for maintaining a sister city relationship with a Russian city despite the country invading Ukraine.

Action News Jax spoke to the leader of the Jacksonville Sister Cities Association, Brenda Frinks, who says that they, along with the Jacksonville Group, will be meeting Monday to discuss the issue.

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“The Jacksonville sister city relationship with Russia has been dormant for five years,” she said. “The city of Jacksonville has had a sister city partnership with a Russian city since 1975. It even still says it on this display. But if you take a look at the flags there is no Russian flag.”

Action News Jax’s Kristen Rary asked the city why the flag was not up but there was no response. Ukrainians like Ivan Bochovski say the program, which is meant to invite collaboration, should be ended.

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“Our Jacksonville was brotherhood and had sisterhood with some Russian cities and in this… now we know that Russia is the aggressor it started the war against peaceful Ukraine and we believe there is a call for Jacksonville to stop the partnership. To stop the sisterhood with Russian cities and instead to start a sisterhood with one of the Ukrainian cities.”

Jacksonville was not the only city called out but Ukrainians Rary spoke to say ending ties to Russia is important for American cities.

The former press officer for Ukraine, Natalia Solieva, told Rary these programs make money for the Russian cities, funding the war.

“Basically in a long-standing process it… supports the war machine. Russian war machine,” she said. “There is not a gray zone. Tt’s black and white. Those who are doing nothing... are passively endorsing the Russian aggression that is happening right now in Ukraine.”

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This is why she believes it’s important to end it.

“Even that small step can help make a big difference in Russia’s opportunities to continue this war or not.”

“To support Ukraine... (means) to support peaceful life. It means to support the progress of world civilization. It means to fight against the war, and I support Russia in Russian cities. It means to say ‘yes’ to Putin and his craziness,” Bochovski said.

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