US media: Zelensky participates in video conference, asking US cities to "cut off" relations with Russian sister cities
[Global Network Reporter Zhao Jiandong] According to the "New York Times" report, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participated in the meeting of American mayors held in Nevada by video on the 3rd. At the meeting, he accused several cities in the United States of colluding with Russia. Has sister city relationship.
Zelensky began speaking after Vice President Harris, the report said, criticizing Chicago, Jacksonville, Florida, Portland, Ore., San Diego, California and San Jose for continuing to maintain sister-city relations with Russia, he said. Relations should be severed. "What do you get from maintaining relations with them? Probably nothing. But they can say to the outside world that Russia is not isolated."
The New York Times said Chicago announced earlier this year that it would suspend its sister-city relationship with Moscow, but not permanently.
The two cities became sister cities in 1997.
In addition, local media in San Jose previously said that the city's leadership decided to maintain a sister city relationship with Yekaterinburg, Russia.
As of the 3rd, the sister cities of Portland, San Diego and Jacksonville continued to maintain their relationship with Russian sister cities on their sister city websites.
Many U.S. cities have sister-city relationships in other countries, and although such friendships are accompanied by business and political exchanges, they are largely symbolic and are often managed by local non-profit organizations.
Zelensky said at the meeting, "Don't make any excuses, don't maintain relations with Russia..."
The New York Times said Portland officials also referred to a statement at the meeting asking cities not to sever their partnership with Russia.
But other U.S. cities have not commented on Zelensky's remarks.