The symbolic action Neil Mitchell says the Melbourne City Council ‘must’ take today

Neil Mitchell is calling on the Melbourne City Council to immediately end its sister city relationship with the Russian city of Saint Petersburg.

“It is time to take a stand. Saint Petersburg in Russia is a sister city to Melbourne, Australia. It should not be,” the 3AW Mornings host said.

A promotional video for Saint Petersburg, filmed in 1991, shows Melbourne’s then lord mayor Richard Meldrum and other officials from the council sitting opposite Vladimir Putin.

“We sat and drank vodka with Vladimir Putin 30 years ago. Of course, nobody knew who he was then, he was just a Saint Petersburg official, but it shows the level of this arrangement,” the 3AW Mornings host said.

“Today, at once, Melbourne City Council should suspend its sister city relationship with Saint Petersburg.

“We want nothing to do with Russia and the council must make a stand – no mucking around. Sally Capp should suspend the relationship.

“The people of Saint Petersburg are not at fault, but we can’t deal with them.”

Press PLAY below to hear what Neil Mitchell wants to see happen