Manchester to suspend 'friendship agreement' with Russian city St Petersburg in solidarity with Ukrainian people

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Manchester is to suspend a 'friendship agreement' with St Petersburg following the Russian invasion of Ukraine it has been confirmed.

It comes as the city's Ukrainian community urged civic leaders to scrap the link in protest at Vladimir Putin's "barbaric military assault" and instead enter a twinning arrangement with a Ukrainian city.

The partnership with St Petersburg is Manchester's "oldest formal link" according to the city council's website, and dates back to a friendship agreement signed in 1962, "with a strong focus on cultural exchange throughout the relationship. " READ MORE: LIVE: People from across Greater Manchester come together to show solidarity with Ukraine - latest updates However, ahead of a huge solidarity rally iin Piccadilly Gardens his afternoon, the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain called on Manchester to break all ties with Russia.

Martyn Chymera, , Director of the organisation, who lives in Stoneclough near Bolton said: "Glasgow were twinned with Rostov-on-Don and they suspended that yesterday. "I think it would be very powerful if Andy Burnham could contact his opposite number in St Petersburg and ask why they are not allowing anti-war demonstrations as there have been protests there. "I wouldn't expect a positive response to be honest. "But Manchester's proud history is a democratic one so to be linked with a city that isn't being democratic should be a big cause for concern. "I just don't think the cities are aligned. "And I think it would send out a very strong statement of solidarity if a new partnership could be formed with a city in Ukraine." This afternoon, the leader of Manchester City Council, Coun Bev Craig, confirmed moves were already afoot to suspend the link, as a