East Brunswick Working To Develop Sister City In Ukraine

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February, thousands of New Jersey residents stepped up to collect humanitarian aid for Ukrainians. But many local nonprofit organizations are struggling to deliver the aid due to blocked ports, treacherous roads and shipping delays.

In a bid to deliver humanitarian aid expeditiously, East Brunswick is working to develop a sister city in Ukraine. The announcement was made by Mayor Brad Cohen during this week’s council meeting.

Cohen is working on this project with Assemblyman Sterley Stanley who was a former Councilman in East Brunswick.

"It will actually help us to get supplies and donations to Ukraine a little bit more expeditiously,” Cohen said. “It’s just another thing to have with another town that has and shares interests, especially now that they are in need.”

Cohen did not announce the name of the town as officials are still working out the logistics. “But we will be one of the first townships in the country to have such a relationship with a city in Ukraine,” Cohen said.

Russia and Ukraine recently agreed to create a safe corridor for humanitarian aid to be delivered. But closed ports and roads made treacherous due to bombings have made the task difficult, according to reports. However, aid has been able to reach neighboring countries assisting Ukrainians fleeing the invasion.

President Joe Biden recently announced that the United States would donate $1 billion to European countries facing the humanitarian crisis.

Since the invasion, over 4 million people have fled to neighboring countries. The United Nations Refugee Agency said that more than 10.5 million people have been displaced either within Ukraine or abroad as refugees.

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