The award was presented on July 19 in Hofstetten, Germany — in recognition of leadership that inspires municipalities to seek partners in Ukraine and build lasting ties.

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Martin Aßmuth, mayor of the small town of Hofstetten in Germany’s Black Forest, received the honorary title of Ambassador of Cities’ Friendship for his personal and consistent role in developing over 20 Ukrainian-German municipal partnerships. These connections were initiated in cooperation with the Cities4Cities initiative, the Young Mayors Network in Germany, and SKEW, becoming part of a broader European movement of solidarity with Ukraine.

A partnership that began in 2019

Martin Aßmuth believed in the power of municipal partnerships with Ukraine long before it became a widespread response to the full-scale invasion. In 2019, he established a connection with the municipality of Trostianets in the Lviv region — first through an interest in shared history, and later through shared values.

This friendship, rooted in the home community of Svitlana Blinova, coordinator of Cities4Cities, continues to inspire not only the team behind the initiative but also a growing network of cities.

“Hofstetten and Martin Aßmuth have inspired other German towns to launch partnerships with Ukrainian communities. The connection with Trostianets became a personal spark for me to co-found Cities4Cities in the first weeks after the full-scale invasion.” — said Svitlana Blinova.

Following February 24, 2022, the partnership entered a new phase with the launch of Hofstetten hilft! — a grassroots initiative that united over 50 partners: local residents, volunteers, and municipalities across Germany. The focus: direct aid to Ukrainian communities and the promotion of solidarity through local cooperation.

€1.6 million and 20 partnerships — from the heart of the Black Forest

In just three years of Martin Aßmuth’s friendship:

• The community of Hofstetten (population approx. 2,000) raised €1.6 million in humanitarian aid;
• Delivered over 650 tons of supplies to Ukraine — including fire trucks, generators, medical equipment, and school furniture;
• Launched a mobile dental clinic, donated buses for children with disabilities, and supported the recovery of kindergartens and hospitals;
• Helped initiate more than 20 municipal partnerships between Ukrainian and German communities.
  All of this — not thanks to large budgets, but to the vision and drive of one mayor who brought people and municipalities together.

“When I offer my friendship, it’s for life. In difficult times, I stand with you,” — says Martin Aßmuth.

A football field ceremony

The award was presented on July 19 in Hofstetten, during a friendly football match between teams of young mayors from Ukraine and Germany.

During the match, the Hofstetten hilft! initiative also handed over firefighting equipment collected from various German cities, as well as a school bus equipped for children with disabilities. The bus will be delivered to the Hnivan community — one of the active participants of the Ukrainian delegation.

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Martin Aßmuth is a member of the national board of the Young Mayors Network in Germany and a strong advocate for partnerships with Ukraine. In 2023, he received the German award “Bürgermeister mit Mission” (“Mayor with a Mission”) for his contributions to supporting Ukraine.

His efforts were also acknowledged by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who invited Aßmuth to join a meeting with local leaders recognized for their civic leadership in times of crisis.

About the Award

The Ambassador of Cities’ Friendship Award was launched by Cities4Cities in 2024 to honor individuals who transform city partnerships into real solidarity and action. The first laureate was Edward Mayor, founder of the NGO Stand with Ukraine, who helped establish over 10 French-Ukrainian partnerships.

Cities4Cities initiative implements the “International Municipal Cooperation” sphere of the Polaris Programme “Supporting Multilevel Governance in Ukraine”, which is funded by Sida and implemented by SALAR International.