The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchezhas arrived in kyiv early this Saturday to meet with the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenskyon the first day of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union (EU) and with a clear message of support for the aspirations of Ukraine access negotiations to the European club will open this year, reports Efe.
“I wanted the first act of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU to be in Ukraine together with Volodímir Zelenski”, Sánchez wrote on his Twitter account when announcing his arrival in the Ukrainian capital.
Already in Kyiv.
I wanted the first act of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU to be in Ukraine together with @ZelenskyyUa.
I will transfer to your Government and Parliament all the European solidarity.
We will maintain our support for the Ukrainian people until peace returns to Europe. pic.twitter.com/bPcvnYxNZZ
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 1, 2023
“I will transfer all European solidarity to your Government and Parliament. We will maintain our support for the Ukrainian people until peace returns to Europe”, added the President of the Spanish Government, who has published a video of his arrival by train at the station Kiev.
It’s about the third visit from Sánchez to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion, on February 24, 2022, after the one carried out in April 2022 and that of last February 23. The first time he traveled accompanied by the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, and on the second occasion, in addition to meeting with Zelensky, he delivered a speech before the Ukrainian Parliament.
The current trip takes place in the midst of a counteroffensive by kyiv troops and a week after the failed revolt of the Wagner mercenary group against the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
In an interview granted this Friday in the Ukrainian capital to Spanish media, Zelenski highlighted the good tuning with Sánchez, he thanked the Spanish people for their military, economic and humanitarian aid and recognized the Spanish generosity in welcoming Ukrainian refugees, mostly women and children.
entry into the EU
Zelensky reaffirmed his hope that Ukraine’s European expectations will get back on track this year with a positive assessment from Brussels in October of Kiev’s work to align with EU standards, which would allow the start of negotiations. entry negotiations under the rotating Spanish presidency, which ends at the end of the year.
Asked about a possible visit to spainZelenski underlined his willingness and left open the possibility that the issue be dealt with today in his meeting with Sánchez.
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Another short-term Ukrainian priority is the summit of the NATO to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, where kyiv hopes to receive a firm invitation to join the Alliance when the war ends. Zelenski is looking for support to get it and will also address this matter with Sánchez.
The delivery of new military aid requested by Ukraine could also be among the topics of the meeting.