Charlotte City Council members on Monday voted unanimously to suspend ties with Charlotte's sister city, Voronezh, Russia. The move is a ceremonial show of solidarity with the local Ukrainian community following the Russian military invasion of Ukraine in February.

On Feb. 28, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper issued Executive Order No. 251 encouraging local government agencies to adopt policies to ensure that public dollars and operations do not directly benefit Russian entities. The city will reevaluate its relationship with Voronezh one year after a declaration of peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Charlotte and Voronezh became sister cities in 1991. The government-to-government relationship has been mostly ceremonial over the last five years.

Charlotte residents called for an end of the relationship in 2013 over anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Russia. Through cooperation between governments and residents in both cities the relationship was maintained.

Charlotte's sister city relationships are run by a committee of volunteers that promotes global citizen diplomacy and direct contact with sister cities through educational, cultural and civic exchanges.

The City Council approved the following resolution to suspend the siter city relationship with Voronezh.

CONDEMNING the Russian unprovoked invasion of Ukraine that blatantly ignores national sovereignty and deliberate disregard for human lives as well as threatens the ideals of democracy and freedom is unjustifiable and cannot go without baring consequence;

REAFFIRMING our support of the people of Ukraine in our community, in their homeland, or seeking refuge in neighboring countries as they fight courageously against a tyrant to defend their country, their democracy and their freedom;

ACKNOWLEDGING the brave citizens in both Ukraine and Russia who are standing up against this assault on democracy and human life and don't support the attack by the Russian Federation;

BEARING IN MIND the work that will be needed to promote democratic values and create a system that encourages freedom of speech and civil and human rights in Russia and throughout the region;

and now therefore,

BE IT ORDERED THAT THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE shall immediately suspend its sister city ties with the City of Voronezh.

• Sister city status can be reviewed and considered for readmittance in the sister cities program after a period of one year following the declaration of peace, the return of sovereign and territorial integrity to Ukraine and the establishment of democratic systems in Russia.

• At this time, we will not support any exchanges between our governments, businesses, nor residents of Russia.

We are hopeful that a peaceful solution will be found quickly and that we can again join with Voronezh to celebrate the commonalities that bring us together instead of acknowledging the political differences and violence that tarnish a 30-year relationship based on peace, diplomacy and democratic exchange.