Let us be reminded that the very birth of the International Twinning Movement, founded by Stalingrad and Coventry, is inextricably linked to the Battle of Stalingrad.  

The meeting was attended (both online and offline) by the organizers of the project <strong>"Digital Tablecloth 'Volgograd – Coventry' – 80 years of mutual support"</strong>, the leading faculty members and students of Volgograd and Coventry universities, artistic communities, and social activists.  

Several speakers were broadcasting their opening addresses from the conference halls of Coventry City Council and Volgograd City Duma. Among them were the Lord Mayor of Coventry, Mr. John McNicholas, Coventry City Councillors, and the first Deputy Chairman of the Volgograd City Duma Mr. Dmitry Dilman.  

Most of the reports were dedicated to the history of the Battle of Stalingrad and the first ties between Stalingrad and Coventry. They were interspersed with live performances: members of a Coventry dance ensemble performed a Russian dance with shawls and presented choreographic compositions to the iconic Soviet songs "Smuglyanka" and "Katyusha". 

Earlier that day, a Zoom meeting took place between Volgograd and Coventry people's deputies. Its participants paid tribute to the memory of the defenders of Stalingrad and outlined several possible areas of cooperation, all while sharing information about major international events scheduled to be held in Volgograd and Coventry in 2022.  

"What rose from the ruins of Coventry and Stalingrad was not only our cities themselves, but also the friendship that would culminate in the birth of the international twinning movement. We are proud that these friendly ties are still active, and we will be happy to cement and expand them by means of new joint projects," said the Chairman of Volgograd City Duma Vladlen Kolesnikov.