DALLAS (1080 KRLD)- The Dallas City Council has adopted a resolution that "condemns Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine and stands with the Ukrainian people." The council approved the resolution unanimously Wednesday.
The U.S. Census estimates 5,223 Ukrainian Americans live in North Texas.
"They deserve to hear us, as a city council, say loudly and clearly that we stand with them, not just behind them but with them," says Mayor Eric Johnson. "We're going to do our part however large or small that may be."
Johnson says the Dallas City Council should not "comment on every single thing that goes on in the world," but he says extraordinary times call for extraordinary action.
"We are living through one of those extraordinary times," he says.
Johnson says, as Dallas grows as an international destination, the city must "stand up at times like this."
"I think this city's clearly important to the global economy," he says. "We're the cultural engine of this entire region, but we also have to be the moral leaders, and that's what this is about. We're a welcoming city."
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"Vladimir Putin and his regime need to understand it's not just European countries, it's the western countries and it's even cities like Dallas that will stand up to any type of bully out there," says Councilman Omar Narvaez.
The resolution says Dallas will not authorize any contracts in the future with companies "with significant ties to the Russian regime under Vladimir Putin."
The resolution also cuts ties with Dallas' sister city in Russia, Saratov. Saratov became a sister city in 2004, with a population of about 840,000 about 200 miles from the Ukrainian border.
Carlo Capua, a board member with Sister Cities International who represents Fort Worth, urged the council not to sever ties with Saratov.
"Keeping this relationship would send a very clear message to our Russian friends that regardless of what's happening--and our Russian friends who have nothing to do with the decisions being made by just a few people in power--our relationship is not transactional," he says. "We are here to show them we love them and care about them when they need it the most."
"However, the City of Dallas recognizes the long-time cultural, educational, and medical ties with the people of Saratov and supports any efforts by the people of Dallas and Saratov to work toward peace and understanding during this challenging time."
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