Madrid (dpa)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Madrid yesterday, on his first official visit to Spain.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky concluded a security agreement with Spain that includes providing arms supplies worth one billion euros ($1.1 billion) during the current year to support Kiev.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a joint press conference with Zelensky in Madrid yesterday: Spain will supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition, including missiles for the Patriot air defense batteries that have been deployed in Ukraine.
Bloomberg News quoted Sanchez as saying: “The most important thing is to help Ukraine as quickly as possible, and this is what Spain is doing.”
Zelensky said: Ukraine needs at least seven additional Patriot systems to ensure basic protection from Russian fighters.
The Spanish newspaper El Pais, citing informed sources, said: This is the largest amount of military aid provided by the Spanish government to another country.
The newspaper said: The package will include Patriot missiles, 19 Leopard battle tanks and other weapons manufactured in Spain.
She added that the goal is to deliver the first ten Leopard tanks by the end of June, along with additional missiles and ammunition. Sanchez said that he will push to secure “the largest possible participation” from the countries of the world at next month’s summit in Switzerland, which aims to move forward towards formulating a peace plan for Ukraine.
In light of fears that the importance of the summit will decline due to the lack of attendance and the existence of a competing plan, European Union officials are seeking to reach a face-saving result at the Swiss summit next month.
#Spain #military #support #Ukraine #worth #billion #dollars