Durham County Council has said it will keep its twinning arrangements with a Russian city "under review" amid the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
On July 5, 1968, the council signed a charter of friendship with the Russian city of Kostroma, which lies around 250 miles to the North East of Moscow.
Since then, hundreds of residents have travelled to the city to learn more about its culture, including folk groups, theatre companies, and teachers.
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Leader of Durham County Council, Cllr Amanda Hopgood, said the council "shares the horror" felt by people around the world but said it will keep twinning arrangements under review subject to any government guidance.
Cllr Amanda Hopgood said: "We share the horror felt by people around the world at the situation in Ukraine and our thoughts are very much with those who live there.
" County Durham was first linked with the Russian City of Kostroma in 1968, although there are currently no active projects through the twinning.
"We will keep our twinning arrangements under review subject to any government guidance that is issued."
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, February 24 declaring that Russia could not feel "safe, develop and exist" because of what he claimed was a constant threat from modern Ukraine.
According to reports from Kyiv, Belarus troops are set to join those from Russia with more civilian casualties expected in the coming days as a result of the bombs used by Russia.
More than 520,000 people are now said to have now fled Ukraine as refugees, with Vladimir Putin being accused of "war crimes", after residential areas in the city of Kharkiv were bombed by his regime.
