Councillors have given the ‘green light’ to open negotiations on a draft Twinning Charter between Trowbridge Town Council and Kostopil in Ukraine.

They gave the go-ahead for talks at their full council meeting in September after receiving a presentation from Anastasia Zhuravel, who has been a resident of Trowbridge since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Council voted unanimously to go ahead with negotiations on a draft Twinning Charter between Trowbridge Town Council and Kostopil City Council in western Ukraine.

The council said: “Upon successful conclusion of those negotiations, the council agrees to consider a further recommendation to approve the signing of a Twinning Charter between our two communities.”

The approval follows a motion from Trowbridge mayor Stephen Cooper, who believes it will help to cement ties between the two communities.

Cllr Cooper says the aim is to agree and sign a joint twinning charter with Kostopil which would be a ‘hugely symbolic’ show of support for the city while Ukraine is at war with Russia.

He said: “This has been a long-held and heartfelt desire of mine, and with good fortune, we'll now see it come to fruition."