Highland Council signs Memorandum of Understanding with Ukrainian region

24th April 2026

The Highland Council has confirmed the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State (Military) Administration in Ukraine.

The MoU acknowledges bonds of friendship and common aims to promote knowledge transfer, educational and trade exchanges, and encourage investment opportunities between the two regions.

Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Bill Lobban, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi recently met to sign the Memorandum of Understanding at the Embassy of Ukraine in London. The Head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State (Military) Administration, Svitlana Onyshchuk was present online to take part in the signing as well

The Ivano-Frankivsk region, located in western Ukraine and bordering Romania, is a predominantly rural area with a population of around 1.37 million. It has strong economic activity in agriculture and forestry, significant renewable energy potential and a well-established tourism sector.

Under the MoU, The Highland Council (and partners) and Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State (Military) Administration will work together to explore cooperation across four key areas, including:

Economic cooperation and development (including interaction with Highlands and Islands Enterprise).
Education (including forestry and distance learning, as well as interaction with the University of the Highlands and Islands).

Energy (including solar, biomass, hydrogen, hydropower storage systems and onshore wind).
Tourism.

While the MoU itself does not create legal or financial obligations, it provides a framework through which specific projects and activities may be developed in future.

Welcoming the signing, Councillor Bill Lobban, Convener of The Highland Council, said, "This Memorandum of Understanding represents an important expression of friendship and support between the Highlands and the people of Ukraine.

“Highland Council has steadfastly supported the people of Ukraine over the last four years as they continue to defend themselves. Highland Councillors previously agreed to disinvest the Highland Council Pension Fund and all associated investment funds under the Council’s control from all Russian companies. The Council has also granted the Freedom of the Highlands to the President of Ukraine.

“We have welcomed Ukrainians into our communities and into our homes as the Council played an active role in supporting Ukrainians arriving in the region through both UK‑wide and Scottish Government schemes.

“This Memorandum of Understanding with the Ivano-Frankivsk Region of Ukraine will continue to publicly reinforce our support.

“The Ivano-Frankivsk Region shares many similarities with Highland, from its rural economy and natural environment to its focus on renewables, education and tourism. We hope that this agreement will create valuable opportunities to share knowledge, build connections and support long-term cooperation that benefits both communities in the future.”

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, stated, "Today, we are witnessing a truly remarkable event — the establishment of a partnership between two important regions of Ukraine and the UK. I hope this marks the beginning of fruitful cooperation across all key areas. I express my sincere gratitude to our British partners and believe that our regions will become true friends.”

The Head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State (Military) Administration, Svitlana Onyshchuk, noted that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the region has significantly intensified its international cooperation.

Particular attention is being paid to supporting internally displaced persons, as from the very first days of the war, the Ivano-Frankivsk region has been receiving and continues to provide shelter to people from areas affected by active hostilities.

Another key priority is the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation system, particularly for military personnel and civilians affected by the war, as well as the creation of conditions for restoring their physical and psychological well-being. Currently, the construction of a modern veteran hub in the region is at its final stage, being implemented with the support of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The facility will serve as a multifunctional centre where veterans will be able to access a full range of essential services.

At the same time, the region is actively working to support relocated businesses. In the Ivano-Frankivsk region, over 200 enterprises, that relocated their production facilities from areas affected by hostilities are already operating successfully, contributing to job preservation and the economic development of local communities and the region as a whole.

“Cooperation with international partners is the key to the development of the region. In recent years, more than 50 international technical assistance projects have been implemented in the Ivano-Frankivsk region,” Svitlana Onyshchuk emphasised.

She also added that, on her initiative, important social and patriotic projects are being actively implemented in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, including “United by Heart, We Are Ukraine!” and “Care for the Families of Heroes.” These initiatives aim to support Ukrainian defenders, their families, and youth development.

“I am confident that by joining our efforts, we will be able to reach even more families in need of support during these challenging times,” the Head of the region concluded.

The MoU has been developed following discussions initiated in early 2025 through the Embassy of Ukraine in the UK, with to the Convener of the Council outlining the Ivano-Frankivsk Region as a good match for the Highlands. The draft MoU was approved by Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in December 2025.

The MoU will run for an initial period of five years and where specific projects are identified and objectives, priorities, and conditions have been agreed upon by relevant parties, these projects may be the subject of separate memorandums.

The agreement reflects a shared commitment to building long-term relationships grounded in friendship, cooperation and mutual benefit, and aligns with wider agreements between the United Kingdom and Ukraine, including the One Hundred Year Partnership Agreement signed in January 2025 and the Political Cooperation, Free Trade and Strategic Partnership Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ukraine signed on 8 October 2020.

The Highland Council joins several other local authorities in the UK which have signed MoU agreements with regions in Ukraine, demonstrating ongoing local government support for international partnership and recovery.

PHOTO
Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Bill Lobban, and the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi at the Embassy of Ukraine in London.

Also
Online at the signing (centre) The Head of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State (Military) Administration, Svitlana Onyshchuk was present online to take part in the signing.

A few other MOU's already in place
Derbyshire County Council ↔ Khmelnytskyi region (2025)
Suffolk County Council ↔ Poltava region (2025)
Glasgow City Council ↔ Mykolaiv (earlier partnership/MoU)