Washington and Kyiv Oblast sign sister-state memorandum in Tacoma; governors highlight aid and reconstruction ties

Tacoma — Governors of Washington state and Kyiv Oblast signed a sister-state memorandum in Tacoma on a day officials described as a ‘‘new beginning’’ for ties between the two jurisdictions.

At a ceremony hosted by the Tacoma Sister Cities Council, Governor Jay Inslee said Washington stood with the people of Kyiv Oblast and highlighted recent humanitarian aid and resettlement efforts. "We donated 30 tons of medical equipment," Inslee said, adding that state employees raised "$145,000" and that Washington has provided temporary homes for about "25,000 refugees." He described the memorandum as both a moral partnership and an economic opportunity for Washington businesses in Ukraine's reconstruction.

The memorandum formalizes cooperation between Washington state and Kyiv Oblast, officials said, and includes plans for a digital trade platform to connect manufacturers in both places and identify collaborative projects. Ruslan Kravchenko, governor of Kyiv Oblast, spoke through a translator about wartime damage and recovery needs, citing about "29,000 objects were destroyed" and saying "around 2,000 people were killed, over a 100 of them were children." He urged ongoing U.S. congressional support and asked attendees to contact their representatives.

Local sister-city leaders recounted Tacoma's long-standing relationship with Brovary, a Kyiv-region city that received a surplus Tacoma ambulance and training from Tacoma firefighters. "The ambulance was there. Save people life, rescue people," Stan Chane, a leader of the Tacoma–Brovary sister-city effort, said of the vehicle's use during the war.

Kravchenko described priorities Washington partners could help with beyond immediate reconstruction, including a proposed rehabilitation center for physical and mental health care for children and civilians affected by the conflict and collaboration on medical and manufacturing projects. City and state officials said the memorandum will support business-to-business connections, investor outreach and technical exchanges to help rebuild infrastructure and services in Kyiv Oblast.

The signing was ceremonial and no legislative vote was recorded; officials closed the program with remarks of gratitude and applause. Mayor Victoria Woodards thanked city and state staff for organizing the event and urged partners to "redouble our efforts to deepen our partnership and to explore new avenues of collaboration."