At the meeting, Kalervo Kummola asked Vitali Klitschko what they needed most at the moment. ‘We need peace’, Mayor Klitschko said.
During the meeting, the mayors reviewed the current situation and Kyiv's need for help. Mayor Klitschko thanked Mayor Kummola and the City of Tampere for all the help and support that the city has sent to Kyiv. In addition to the situation in Ukraine, the mayors discussed the twin city relationship between Tampere and Kyiv. Both mayors see twin city activities as fruitful and beneficial to all parties.
‘Tampere still has a strong will to help Ukraine and the Ukrainians. The discussion with Klitschko was a great indication that, although the situation is still shocking right now, Tampere, alongside other national assistance, is standing firmly in support of Ukraine and Kyiv’, says Mayor Kummola.
Together with the Pirkanmaa wellbeing services county, the City of Tampere will send water tankers and buses that have been taken out of service by Tampere City Transport to Kyiv. The City of Tampere, and ice hockey teams Ilves and Tappara, on their behalf, support Ukrainian ice hockey by donating half of the Aamulehti Tampere Cup's ticket revenue to the Ukrainian Hockey Dream Foundation.
Kyiv has been a twin city of Tampere since 1954. The City of Tampere has supported Ukraine during Russia's war of aggression in many ways. When the war broke out, the City Board decided on a donation of EUR 150,000 to Ukraine. Tampere has also donated buses to Ukraine that have been taken out of service by Tampere City Transport. The buses took aid supplies acquired by the city and collected by volunteers to Ukraine. An example of symbolic support was illuminating Tammerkoski Rapids with the colours of the Ukrainian flag. For the second time, a summer camp was organised in Tampere for children coming from Kyiv.
