On March 2, 2011 the Ambassador of Ukraine to the Hellenic Republic Mr. Volodymyr Shkurov had a meeting with the Mayor of the city of Piraeus Mr. Vassilios I.Michaloliakos and the Secretary General of the Municipality Mr. Stylianos Diamantidis.

During the meeting the common desire of Ukrainian and Greek sides to intensify cooperation between the Greek city of Piraeus and the Ukrainian city of Odessa in the framework of sister-city ties was expressed. The opening of ferry connection between the two port cities was identified as one of the major priorities for future cooperation.

Ukraine’s Ambassador transmitted a letter of the Mayor of Odessa Mr. Oleksiy Kostusev to the Mayor of Piraeus Mr. Vassilios Machaloliakos with the proposals of Ukrainian side for cooperation between cities in different spheres, and expressed an invitation for Mr. Michaloliakos to visit Odessa during the celebration of the City Day and celebration of 180 anniversary from the birth of Odessa Mayor of Greek origin G.Marazli. Mr. Michaloliakos gratefully accepted the invitation to visit Odessa and expressed his hope for further intensification of fruitful cooperation with Ukraine.