Madrid (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain will provide Ukraine with a new military assistance package worth 1 billion euros this year,
Sanchez announced the aid in Kyiv during an international conference on the third anniversary of the invasion by Russia.
“We will continue to support Ukraine as long as we need to,”
Sanchez said.
“Nothing on Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing on European security without Europe,”
He said.
The aid comes as a component of a 10-year bilateral security and defence deal signed in May 2024, according to a statement by Sanchez’s office. Last year, Spain already sent over 1 billion euros in assistance for Ukraine’s defence.
What is the significance of the 10-year defence deal?
In May 2024, Zelenskyy visited the Spanish capital. At then, Spain vowed 1 billion euros in military aid to Ukraine as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy inscribed a security agreement in Madrid.
“It will allow Ukraine to boost its capabilities including its essential air defence systems to protect its civilians, cities and infrastructure, which are still suffering indiscriminate attacks as seen this weekend in Kharkiv,”
Sanchez stated.
Moreover, Sanchez said Spain had already committed to supply Patriot missiles, but what Zelenskyy required from Ukraine’s supporters was “the systems to launch these missiles”.
Madrid will dispatch
“another batch of Leopard tanks and above all ammunition”,
Sanchez stated, pledging to keep operating with Kyiv
“to understand how else – and with what other alternative systems – we can help ensure Ukraine’s air security”.
