Pedro Sánchez pledges to support Ukraine "for as long as it takes" before the Parliament in Kiev
The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, reiterated his commitment to support Ukraine "for as long as it takes" and "regardless of the price to be paid" in a speech to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's unicameral parliament.
"Today, 1 July, Spain assumes the great responsibility of taking on the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months," said Sánchez, who travelled to Kiev on Saturday, where he will later meet with President Volodymir Zelenski.
"I wanted to tell you that we are with you and we will be with you for as long as it takes. I wanted to tell you that we will support Ukraine no matter what the cost," he said, before announcing a new aid package of ¤55 million for Ukraine.
Ucrania va a ganar la guerra porque ya ha ganado la batalla de las ideas al elegir a Europa.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 1, 2023
La UE se levantó para evitar guerras. Decidimos unirnos en nuestra diversidad, y eso nos hizo más fuertes.
Europa está con vosotros. pic.twitter.com/6r370BcjlU
This will comprise, he said, 51 million funded through the World Bank group to support Ukrainian small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as four million through the UN development programme to provide green energy systems for schools.
Sánchez noted that "things have changed" since his first speech to the Rada in February, the anniversary of the invasion, as Ukraine is now in the midst of a counter-offensive against an enemy "that is showing signs of weakness".
"We have all seen the events of the past week. They speak for themselves," he said, referring to the failed mutiny led by Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Ya en Kyiv.
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 1, 2023
He querido que el primer acto de la Presidencia española del Consejo de la UE, sea en Ucrania junto a @ZelenskyyUa.
Trasladaré a su Gobierno y al Parlamento toda la solidaridad europea.
Mantendremos el apoyo al pueblo ucraniano hasta que la paz regrese a Europa. pic.twitter.com/bPcvnYxNZZ
Sánchez expressed the conviction that Ukraine emerged victorious from the struggle and praised Ukraine's "determination" in its fight for independence, even if the price to be paid was "enormous".
He also reiterated his condemnation of Russian attacks on civilians and referred to the one that hit Kramatorsk (east) this week, where the writer Victoria Amelina, who was accompanying a Colombian delegation, was seriously wounded.
"Victoria was close to the frontline because she wanted to document the tragedy. She wanted to collect the memory of the infamy. The lost legacy. The broken lives. The crimes committed," she said, stressing that "we need women like her to write history".
With regard to Ukraine's European aspirations, Sánchez said that "no one deserves candidate status more than Ukraine", but noted that "it is not an easy process, especially with an ongoing war".
In this respect, he stressed the importance of reforms, a process that "has value in itself", by improving the economy, attracting investment and strengthening international confidence.
"In due course, you will be granted access to our Union", he said, and affirmed that Spain will eagerly await the European Commission's report in September, which "will lay the foundations for the future".
The Prime Minister also referred to the forthcoming NATO summit in Vilnius on 11 and 12 July, in an environment in which it has become clear "that the promises of the Cold War can no longer be trusted" and in which it is necessary to "rethink the security framework".
In this context, Spain is in favour of creating a NATO-Ukraine Council, as a way to increase Kiev's political participation in the alliance, which would thus cease to be "a guest".
"We are also in favour of increasing practical cooperation, to continue adapting your defence sector to NATO standards," he said, without commenting on potential NATO membership once the war is over.
He stressed, however, that Spain would also continue to "do its part" by supplying more Leopard battle tanks, armoured transport vehicles and a field hospital, a statement that was greeted with applause by the Ukrainian parliamentarians.
