The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, gives the starting signal for Spain’s turn to preside over the Council of the EU this Saturday from the Ukrainian unicameral parliament in Kiev. The leader of the Executive reinforces his commitment to Ukraine “as long as it takes” and announces a package of 55 million to help small and medium-sized companies, and promote measures to promote the country’s entry into the European Union and NATO.
“Today, July 1, Spain assumes the great responsibility of assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for the next six months,” said Sánchez, who traveled to Kiev this Saturday, where he will later meet with President Volodimir Zelenski. . “I wanted to tell you that we are with you and we will be for as long as it takes. I wanted to tell you that we will support Ukraine regardless of the price to pay,” he said, before announcing a new 55 million euro aid package for Ukraine.
55 million package
This will consist, he said, of 51 million financed through the World Bank group to support small and medium-sized Ukrainian companies, as well as four million through the United Nations development program to supply green energy systems to schools. Sánchez said that “things have changed” since his first speech before the Rada in February, the anniversary of the invasion, as Ukraine is now in the midst of a counteroffensive 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 the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Sánchez expressed the conviction that Ukraine emerged victorious from the contest and praised the “determination” of Ukraine in its fight for independence, despite the fact that the price to pay is “enormous.”
He also reiterated the condemnation of the Russian attacks against 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 injured. “Victoria was close to the front 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.”
Regarding Ukraine’s European aspirations, Sánchez indicated that “nobody deserves more than Ukraine” the status of candidate country, but noted that “it is not an easy process, especially with an ongoing war.” In this sense, he highlighted the importance of the reforms, a process that “has value in itself”, by improving the economy, attracting and reinforcing international confidence. “In time, they will grant you access to our Union,” he said, stating that Spain will eagerly await the European Commission’s report in September, which “will lay the foundation for the future.”
Entry into NATO
The President of the Government also referred to the next NATO summit in Vilnius, on July 11 and 12, 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 favor of creating a NATO-Ukraine Council, as a way to increase political participation in the Kiev alliance, which would thus stop being “a guest”. “We are also in favor of increasing practical cooperation, to further bring your defense sector up to NATO standards,” he said, without commenting on potential entry into the alliance once the war is over.
He stressed, however, that Spain would also continue to do “its part”, supplying more Leopard main battle tanks, armored transport vehicles, as well as a field hospital, a statement that was greeted with applause by Ukrainian parliamentarians.
