According to him, the day before there was a discussion about whether to break off or suspend relations with sister cities against the backdrop of Russia's special operation in Ukraine.
“We decided to keep them because we considered that they represent an opportunity to support the tax at the subnational and city level,” RIA Novosti quotes Olson.
The International Association of Sister Cities also adhere to the position of maintaining ties between the regions of the United States and Russia, despite the geopolitical situation.
At the same time, the governor of the US state of Virginia, Glenn Youngkin, earlier called on the cities of Norfolk and Roanoke to end the sister cities relationship.