The head of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, will sign this Monday in Madrid a bilateral agreement on security that guarantees that Spain will continue supplying weapons to Ukraine and will expand that aid military.
According to the newspaper El País, Spain is going to commit today to Ukraine an arms package worth 1,129 million euros, an unprecedented figure in national military aid to any country.
The agreement includes supplies of military equipment ranging from Patriot missiles to Leopard battle tanks, as well as a wide range of Spanish-made products such as artillery projectiles, anti-drone systems and portable rocket launchers.
It also implies million-dollar contracts for the Spanish defense industry, since the war material will be manufactured by Spanish companies such as TRC, Indra, Escribano, Uro, Expal or Instalaza, according to the newspaper.
The king will receive Zelensky at the Barajas airport
This Monday will be Zelensky’s first official bilateral visit to Spain, a visit initially scheduled for May 17, but which had to be canceled due to the Russian offensive in Ukraine.
The king will first receive Zelensky at the Barajas airport. After this reception, the Ukrainian president will hold a first meeting at noon with Sánchez, with whom he is expected to sign the security agreement.
The agreement will be signed at the Moncloa Palace. Subsequently, the Ukrainian president will be received by Felipe VI, will attend a lunch offered by the kings in his honor and will visit the Congress of Deputies.
Although this trip came to light last Friday, there was no official confirmation of it until early Sunday night for security reasons.
Training of 400 Ukrainian soldiers
Spain has been sending weapons to Ukraine in response to the war with Russia, and last week the Ministry of Defense reported the shipment of a new batch of Leopard tanks and various types of ammunition, such as 155mm artillery or a new shipment of anti-aircraft missiles. Patriot, as well as anti-drone systems, optronic surveillance and tracking systems and remote weapons turrets.
The Spanish Government has also committed to taking on the training of 400 new Ukrainian soldiers, who will join the 4,000 who have already received training in Spanish territory.
This is an agreement similar to the one that Ukraine is signing with other countries and through which Spain undertakes to continue providing military support to Ukraine in its war conflict.
Sánchez has been reiterating Spain’s support for Ukraine, as he confirmed to Zelensky in the telephone conversation they had on May 7 and in which he guaranteed that support for as long as necessary.
BY: Nadeem Faisal Baiga
