On 20 September 2025, the Kalush City Council and the municipality of Viseu in Portugal signed a partnership agreement. Mayor of Kalush Andrii Naida and Mayor of Viseu Fernando Ruas signed the document in the presence of Alina Ponomarenko, the Consul of Ukraine in Porto (Portugal).

This event followed three years of preparation. Since the full-scale invasion broke out, Portugal has welcomed over 60,000 Ukrainian refugees and provided substantial humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine. Around a thousand Ukrainian citizens have found refuge in Viseu alone. They have received support from the local authorities and community there. Iryna Borshchevska, a Kalush native who has lived in this Portuguese city for many years, has played an important role in establishing contacts between Kalush and Viseu, and has been helping to organise the reception of Ukrainians since the first days of the full-scale war.

The partnership between Kalush and Viseu aims to develop cooperation in areas such as the economy, education, sports, and culture. The parties are currently discussing specific projects that could be implemented under the new agreement.

Another sign of support came from Fernando Ruas, Mayor of Viseu, who confirmed his commitment to continuing to support Ukrainians living in his city and to cooperating with Ukrainian communities.

During the trip, the Kalush delegation also met Ukrainian refugees in Viseu. These people were forced to flee their homes in Donetsk, Luhansk, Dnipro and other cities. They actively support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, organise aid collections and express their gratitude to local residents for their warmth and solidarity.

The partnership between Kalush and Viseu is a testament to how inter-municipal cooperation can evolve based on human connections, mutual support, and shared challenges.