France/A town south of Toulouse launches a twinning arrangement with a Ukrainian commune: "A question of solidarity".

Cugnaux announces a twinning agreement with the Ukrainian town of Kulykivka, north of Kiev. The town hall plans to welcome Ukrainian pupils next February.

After Toulouse and Kiev, it's Cugnaux's turn to twin with a Ukrainian town. The town has just joined forces with the commune of Kulyvka, a two-hour drive north of Kiev and less than 100 km from the Russian border. The commune comprises several villages with a population of 14,000.

It all came together in six months, thanks to the networks of associations in Haute-Garonne supporting the Ukraine, which put the two mayors in touch with each other. Cugnaux had already been twinned with the Italian town of Cavarzère near Venice for 40 years. As Simon Berger, the Cugnaux mayor's chief of staff, explains, the twinning arrangement has been revived for the sake of mutual aid: "It's become a little obsolete in recent years, but we're seeing it clearly in light of the situation we're experiencing in Europe. We said a few years ago that there was no more war in Europe, but that's no longer the case. As we can see from the geopolitical upheavals on a global scale, there's a lot going on. The question of international solidarity is becoming much more important, and twinning plays a part in this, enabling people to meet, exchange ideas and build on each other's strengths.

A school exchange planned for February 2026

Beyond the question of war, these exchanges focus on practical issues such as waste, agronomic practices and sustainable development. The other way of sharing cultures is through school exchanges, and there will soon be Ukrainian children in Cugnaux, teenagers aged 13 to 17 who will attend either collège Montesquieu or lycée Henri Matisse. The Mairie is working to bring these young people from Kulykivka here as early as February 2026," adds Simon Berger:"I have to admit that it's a complex issue, because there are a lot of logistical questions involved, from welcoming the families from Cugnal to transporting them, because they have to leave Ukraine and cross the whole of Europe. These are also children who have been at war for four years now, who don't necessarily go to school, who have online courses, so if we can get them temporarily out of this conflict zone, it's a good thing."

Last week, Toulouse, twinned with Kiev since 1975, sent two utility trucks filled with humanitarian and medical equipment, vehicles which the city is donating. In all, Toulouse plans to donate 12 vehicles, trucks or vans to its twin city.

Source: www.francebleu.fr/