On May 19, 2025, Odesa's Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov visited the German city of Heidelberg for a significant ceremony to sign a partnership agreement between the cities. 

The document was signed by Mayor Trukhanov and Heidelberg's Mayor Eckart Würzner. 

During his speech, the Odesa mayor expressed gratitude to the German partners for their support, especially during these challenging times for Ukraine. 

Trukhanov shared insights about Odesa's life amid the war, the challenges faced, and the importance of international collaboration, particularly with cities in Germany. 

“Such cooperation is vital for us. We are open to joint initiatives. Together with our friends from Heidelberg, we are already planning specific steps, including programs for the rehabilitation of Ukrainian veterans, adaptive sports, and collaboration in cultural and educational areas. We appreciate the solidarity and believe that our partnership will exemplify the unity of European cities,” the Odesa mayor stated. 

The Heidelberg city council has already provided Odesa with municipal and firefighting equipment. This marks the first step in a larger collaboration planned during their discussions.