Nottingham City Council leader David Mellen has blasted the invasion on Ukraine as 'regressive' as the local authority has cut its ties to twinned cities in Russia and Belarus.
The city was twinned with Krasnodar in Russia and Minsk in Belarus, but any association with those two cities has now stopped with immediate effect.
Explaining the decision, Labour leader and councillor David Mellen said it 'borne out of our unwillingness to be associated with both the Russian and Belarusian governing bodies and is not a reflection on the people of Minsk or Krasnodar'.
Cllr Mellen said: "We have deep concern at the unfolding events in Ukraine and we cannot stand by as Russian military aggression, supported by Belarus, continues unchecked.
"We have watched the unfolding news in dismay as Russian troops disregard the independent sovereignty of Ukraine and the city of Nottingham will stand in solidarity with Ukraine and their absolute right to national self-determination.
"The severance of ties is borne out of our unwillingness to be associated with both the Russian and Belarusian governing bodies and is not a reflection on the people of Minsk or Krasnodar.
"It is true that cities such as ours reached out beyond the borders of Europe in the aftermath of the atrocities which ripped apart families, cities and countries throughout the 20th century.
"The actions taken by Russia are surely a regressive act which will stifle the Russian and Belarusian people who rightly deserve much more from their leaders."
Cllr Mellen has also written to Mayor Andrey Aleksenyenko of Krasnodar to share his concern.
The letter said: "Although I firmly believe that my actions are both proportionate and representative of the views of the people I represent, I must confess I have both a sense of sadness and regret that the Russian people, some of whom you represent are also harmed by these unjust actions.
"Nottingham is home to a long-established Ukrainian community and although Nottingham has in the past valued the relationship between our two cities, we cannot and will not stand by as Russian military aggression in Ukraine continues unchecked."
Nottingham and Minsk twinned in the late 1950s in part to recognise how the Belarusian city had suffered in the Second World War, when around 90 percent of it was destroyed.
The agreement came at a time when there was a fear of a nuclear war between the USSR and the west.
Nottingham helped the children of Minsk who were poisoned by the nuclear fallout from the accident in Chernobyl.
Nottingham and Krasnodar twinned in 2010, with the aim for the cities to discuss and explore any economic, cultural and civic benefits.
The council has not had active links with Minsk or Krasnodar for many years, but the agreements have remained in place and some community connections and exchanges have continued.
The only active twinning arrangements Nottingham currently has in place are with Karlsruhe in Germany and Ningbo in China.
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