Hesse plans partnership with region around Kyiv - Hesse and Kyiv Oblast unite to accelerate Ukraine's EU integration and recovery
Hesse has formed a new partnership with Ukraine's Kyiv Oblast to support the country's path toward EU membership. Approved by the state cabinet on 24 February 2023, the agreement also stands as a gesture of solidarity with the roughly 100,000 Ukrainian refugees currently living in Hesse. The collaboration will focus on exchanges in education, science, business, and digital innovation.
The Kyiv Oblast, one of Ukraine's 24 regions, is home to about 1.8 million people and over 3,000 businesses. Hesse's decision builds on its existing experience with cross-border cooperation, including a long-standing exchange programme with Poland's Greater Poland Voivodeship.
The partnership will encourage joint projects in youth development, research, and economic growth. While Hesse already has five regional partnerships and several city twinning agreements with Ukrainian municipalities, this new deal marks its first formal regional alliance with Ukraine. A separate solidarity partnership between Kassel and Zhytomyr is also in development.
Officials hope the initiative will strengthen ties between the two regions while offering practical support to Ukraine's recovery and integration efforts.
The agreement reflects Hesse's commitment to both humanitarian aid and long-term cooperation. By sharing expertise in key sectors, the partnership aims to boost Kyiv Oblast's resilience and economic prospects. It also reinforces Hesse's role in supporting Ukraine's broader European ambitions.
