Conflict in Ukraine - Spanish government pledges billions for Selenskyj's visit to Ukraine.
Spain and Ukraine inked a robust security pact during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's inaugural visit to an EU nation. The agreement encompasses a €1 billion military aid package from Spain this year, revealed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez after meeting with Zelensky at Moncloa government headquarters in Madrid.
Concrete details of the military assistance were withheld by Sánchez when questioned by reporters. He merely announced they'd keep furnishing air defense missiles, Leopard tanks, and ammunition. "The accord stems from a holistic perspective of security and, as such, encompasses various aspects including the military sector, financial aid, and collaboration between the defense industries of both nations," Sánchez shared.
Zelensky deemed the accord crucial, describing it as "a life-saving boost in a challenging epoch." Emphasizing the agreed-upon initiatives for joint munitions manufacturing, he stated, "These projects won't only aid in the repulsion of Russian aggression, but they'll also facilitate job creation." Madrid praised this as a significant sum, having never offered such expansive military assistance to another country before. Officially, the pledged military support stands at €1.129 billion.
Sánchez was queried at the press conference about potential deliberations by Western nations to comply with Ukraine's requests and sanction the use of Western armaments against targets within Russian territory. The socialist politician countered, "We have no such intention and lack any knowledge of it." Zelensky made no supplementary remarks on the matter in Madrid.
Spanish Royal Welcome for Zelensky
On Zelensky's first official visit to Spain, he was welcomed at Madrid Airport by King Felipe VI. Post-meetings with Sánchez, Zelensky was received by the King in the Madrid Royal Palace. The Ukrainian President proceeded to engage with the President of the Lower House, Francina Armengol, the Senate President, Pedro Rollán, and various political leaders.
The intended visit to Spain and Portugal was initially slated for mid-month. Zelensky postponed these and other international engagements due to the Russian push into the Kharkiv region. The Portugal sojourn will now be rescheduled for Tuesday, per the Portuguese administration's Monday declaration. Stopovers in Lisbon with Prime Minister António Costa and President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa are planned, with a primary focus on fortifying ties between the two countries, with a stress on bolstering cooperation in the domains of security and defense.
Read also:
- Year of climate records: extreme is the new normal
- Precautionary arrests show Islamist terror threat
- UN vote urges Israel to ceasefire
- SPD rules out budget resolution before the end of the year
Source: www.stern.de
