Ukrainian Minister Dmitro Kuleba: “We see ourselves as future members of the EU and NATO” | Albares: “They oppose a model that looks to the future and another, to fences and walls”
The Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Dmitro Kuleba, called on Spain to continue “providing help & rdquor;, after thanking him for his rejection of the referendums on the annexation to Russia of invaded Ukrainian territories. “We need weapons & rdquor ;, he urged. “We appreciate you supporting us. When we win, it will also be your victory” Kuleba indicated by videoconference at the end of a dialogue he had with his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Albares, during the opening day of the IV edition of the La Toja-Atlantic Link Forum.
The future entry of Ukraine into the European Union It was another of the topics on which the conversation pivoted. The Spanish Foreign Minister was “convinced & rdquor; that “Ukraine will soon be a free country within the family of Europe” and Kuleba, confident that important steps can be taken for the integration of his country during the Spanish community presidency in the second half of 2023. “We see ourselves as future members of the EU and NATO & rdquor ;, he went on to indicate, at the time who advanced that they are willing to undertake “all the necessary reforms & rdquor; still immersed in a war context. Albares, after alluding to a possible trip to kyiv, has reiterated his support for his entry into the EU, although he has emphasized the challenges that he poses.
The head of Ukrainian diplomacy has also thanked Spain for its position in the face of “the shameful attempts to expropriate territories” by Russia. Previously, Albares had confirmed that she “does not believe that mockery of illegal referendums & rdquor ;. Although Putin is going to proceed to “seal the annexation” of these territories after the results are favorable, “we will raise our voices to reject the annexation & rdquor ;, he indicated.
Likewise, Spain will continue as it has done up to now, providing financial, military and humanitarian support to the country and also supporting the International Criminal Court (ICC), advanced José Manuel Albares, with an eye toward being able to judge in the future “those responsible for crimes of war & rdquor ;. He also alluded to the importance of the EU and also NATO remaining united in their support for Ukraine and in the sanctions against Russia. “What gives us certainty that this challenge will be won is the unity and cohesion of the Ukrainian people and their partners in Europe and the United States & rdquor ;, he argued, while calling to maintain the union “in humanitarian and military support & rdquor ;. And she has recalled that from the beginning Spain has been sending military equipment and supporting the European Union to finance the fund to pay for Ukraine’s weapons. “That is not going to change”, assured Albares, who stressed that this weaponry cannot have any other consideration than that of a defensive nature because it is sent so that Ukraine protects itself from Russian aggression.
Kuleba has also appealed to maintain unity against Putin and, above all, has defended thate must put an end to “impunity & rdquor; that the Russian president has enjoyed in recent years, referring to the invasion of Georgia and the annexation of Crimea in 2014. “With this war, he not only threatens Ukraine but also the transatlantic space and its values”, the Ukrainian minister maintained, warning that Putin “does not respect the borders of his neighbours. “The only response to their threats is to recognize Russia as a state responsible for terrorism & rdquor ;, he indicated.
Outside the program, he intervened in the debate, invited by the moderator, Josep Piquethe High Representative for EU Foreign and Security Policy, Joseph Borrell, who spoke about the necessary reconstruction of Europe’s security structure once the war is over and alluded to the need for “accountability & rdquor; by Russia. On the other side of the screen, Dmytró Kuleba also thanked Borrell for his presence on the ground in “dangerous moments & rdquor ;.
The conference continues today with the intervention of the president of the Xunta, Alfonso Rueda; the president of the People’s Party, Alberto Nunez Feijoothe Councilor of State, Soraya Saenz de Santamaria and the former presidents of the Government of Spain, Mariano Rajoy Y Philip Gonzalezand from Argentina, Mauricio Macriamong many other participants.