(The Center Square) – State leaders in Ohio deepened a commitment to a war-torn region of Ukraine on Thursday, signing a memorandum of cooperation that builds on a 22-year partnership.
The memo between Ohio and Kharkiv Oblast region of Ukraine focuses on mutual growth in business, arts and cultural understanding, with Cincinnati playing a key role as an ongoing sister city to Kharkiv.
“Our partnership, rooted in goodwill and mutual respect, unites Ohio and Kharkiv Oblast in a shared vision for prosperity and advancement for our communities and citizens,” Gov. Mike DeWine said.
A special ceremony took place in the Cabinet Room at the Statehouse that included the Kharkiv Oblast delegation, DeWine, state Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan and representatives of the Ohio Department of Development, the Ohio Commission on Eastern European Affairs, head of the Kharkiv Oblast Regional Council Tetiana Yehorova-Lutsenko and Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova.
“Today I was extremely honored to witness together with Governor Mike DeWine the signature of Memorandum of Cooperation between the director of the Department of Development, state of Ohio, and the Kharkiv Regional Council,” Markarova said. “Thank you for standing with Ukraine for almost a thousand days of this terrible and brutal Russian aggression, thank you Mr. Governor, and thank you people of Ohio! I am confident that today we are opening a new chapter of our cooperation between our great countries and bringing our victory closer.”
More than 44,000 people of Ukrainian descent live in Ohio. In 2023, Ukraine was Ohio’s 63rd largest export market, exporting more than $31 million worth of products. Ohio imported $205 million worth of goods from Ukraine in 2023.
“The DeWine-Husted administration has shown it’s committed to deepening our state’s partnership with Kharkiv,” Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik said. “By signing a Memorandum of Cooperation, we are solidifying that partnership that will benefit many generations – building a world that is more interconnected, prosperous, and inclusive for all.”
