York deepening partnership with Lviv, Ukraine, with a focus on economic development and strategic collaboration
Following a high-level meeting between York City Council and Ukrainian representatives, both cities have identified key areas where shared expertise can bring mutual support. Council Leader Cllr Claire Douglas recently welcomed Mayor Andriy Sadovyi and other Ukrainian delegates to discuss opportunities for joint initiatives. The meeting highlighted York’s strengths in transport, civil engineering, and links with military support – areas that align closely with Lviv’s ambitions to become a European transport hub and strengthen its resilience infrastructure.
A focus on the rail sector builds on York’s heritage as a pivotal rail city and its thriving rail tech sector offers valuable insights for Lviv’s transport expansion. Collaborative projects in the latest rail technology systems are being explored.
In terms of more general support, plans are underway to host joint business summits, connecting York’s private sector with Ukrainian enterprises in logistics, engineering, and technology. A range of the city’s businesses are actively supporting Ukraine in a number of different ways.
Building on York’s military connections there is the potential to share expertise in military education and emergency planning which could support Lviv’s training academies and resilience programmes.
Cllr Douglas explained, “York’s economic strengths – including rail innovation and civil engineering – are not just local assets, but tools we can share to help rebuild and empower our friends in Lviv.”
The meeting also reaffirmed York’s commitment to humanitarian support. Since the invasion, over 400 Ukrainians have made York their home, welcomed by a community proud to be a City of Sanctuary. People from York have actively supported aid missions to Lviv and Dnipro, and York continues to provide housing, employment, and education support.
“This partnership is about more than solidarity, it’s about action,” said Cllr Douglas. “By combining our strengths, we can help shape a resilient and thriving future for both cities.”
Andriy Sadovyi, Mayor of Lviv, said:
“In times of full-scale war, the support of international partners is crucial for us. It helps Lviv to endure, develop, and build its future even under extremely challenging conditions.
“We highly value our cooperation with York and are grateful for their sincere desire to share experience in areas that are critically important for Lviv – transport, construction, and infrastructure development. This is not just about exchanging ideas, but about real joint projects. In particular, we are considering opportunities to launch initiatives in the railway sector, develop urban infrastructure, and participate in programmes related to rehabilitation and sustainability.
“Lviv has established a solid history of collaboration with British cities. Together with Manchester and Liverpool, we have established the international UNBROKEN Cities Network – a platform to assist in the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Ukrainian cities. Aarhus, Würzburg, Trento, Cannes, Oslo, Rzeszów, Bucha, Mechelen and other cities that share our values have already joined it. This initiative is important not only for Ukraine. It is about cooperation between cities based on solidarity, humanity and sustainable development. And it has a future.”