ANDThis Monday, Spain reaffirmed its support for Ukraine with the signing of a bilateral agreement for the next ten years by which Madrid will deliver 1,000 million euros in 2024 to kyiv, which could reach 5 billion in 2027, so that it can improve its response to the Russian invasion.
The Ukrainian president, who classified the agreement as an “important strategic document” for his country, also visited the Spanish Congress of Deputies, where he was received by the president of this chamber, Francina Armengol, and the president of the Senate, Pedro Rollán (third and fourth authority of the Spanish State, respectively).
The president of the Congress, Francina Armengol (i), and the president of the Senate, Pedro Rollán (d), meet this Monday with the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski (c), in the Congress of Deputies, on the occasion of the visit Zelensky’s official to Spain.
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Zelensky said that Spain is a “reliable partner” that “does not close its eyes” to Russian aggression and thanked him for participating in the next peace summit that will take place in June in Switzerland, to which ninety countries have already confirmed their attendance, according to the Ukrainian president.
(Also read: Israel sends a harsh warning to Spain: ‘Whoever harms us, we will harm’)
The president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez (d), and the president of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, shake hands after signing the “Security Cooperation Agreement between Spain and Ukraine” this Monday at the Moncloa palace in Madrid.
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Support from Spain ‘for as long as necessary’
The memorandum of understanding signed between Zelensky and Sánchez consists of 18 pages, may be modified and expanded and refers to issues such as supply of “modern” military equipment, cooperation in intelligence, donation of technological material and means of transport or maintenance of humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to the more than 200,000 refugees residing in Spain.
Spain is determined to provide support to Ukraine for the necessary time” together with its international allies so that it can defend itself and, in due course, restore its territorial integrity on its borders.
“We are and will be with Ukraine,” said President Sánchez during the press conference after the signing of the document.
This was also emphasized by the King of Spain, Felipe VI, who received the Ukrainian president at the Barajas airport (Madrid), a gesture of special relevance on the part of the head of state, since the last time he went to receive a leader foreigner was in June 2022 with US President Joe Biden.
This morning, King Felipe VI received the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, at the Madrid airport.
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Likewise, Felipe VI conveyed Spain’s support to Zelensky for “as long as necessary” until the Russian attack ceases.
“In these terrible times they are experiencing, Ukraine knows that it will continue to count on Spain and we trust that it will continue to count on the rest of its international partners for as long as necessary,” said the monarch in the speech prior to the lunch offered in honor of Zelensky together to Queen Letizia at the Royal Palace of Madrid.
The Spanish opposition supports the agreement, which the left questions
The partner in the Government of the Socialist Party coalition, the Sumar platform, questioned the way of carrying out the agreement and demanded that its partner bring to Congress the approval of a new shipment of weapons to Ukraine.
“At Podemos we demand peace as a strategic measure and we believe that it is important to establish a truly transformative left in Europe, one that is capable of making progress and expanding rights for citizens,” he stressed.
(Continue reading: The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, proposes resuming negotiations with Ukraine)
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, gives a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Spain after the signing of a security agreement at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid.
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