Spain to Provide €1bn in Military Aid to Ukraine This Year, and €5bn More by 2027
This year, Spain will provide Ukraine with €1 billion in military assistance and an additional €5 billion for the period 2024-2027 through the Ukraine Assistance Fund under the European Peace Facility. This is stipulated in the bilateral security agreement signed.
This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint press conference with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on 27 May in Madrid.
"Today, we talked with Mr Prime Minister, in particular, about further strengthening our air defence and how Spain can help. I informed him about the situation at the frontline and Russia's attempts to expand it. In these weeks, our soldiers are defending themselves against another Russian offensive, and that is why we now especially need to intensify our joint work with partners for greater security and tangible coercion of Russia to peace - by all means," Zelenskyy said.
He also stressed that he appreciated Spain's interest in joint arms production and the development of security technologies.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine is currently asking the world to help with additional Patriot systems, as the Russian army launches more than 3,000 guided bombs into Ukraine every month.
"The most important problem that exists today is that Russia is using more than 3,000 guided missiles a month directly on people. We believe it could be 3,500 next month. This month it was 3,200," he said.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defence to protect itself.
"At least seven systems, because we need two systems for Kharkiv alone. So that Russian planes cannot fly so close and use these aerial bombs (referring to the KABs - ed.) simply on civilians and the military as well. That's why we need these systems of the appropriate quality and quantity. I'm not talking about dozens of systems to completely close the skies over Ukraine, I'm talking about at least not allowing Russia to launch thousands of bombs," Zelenskyy explained.
For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stressed that as Russia's aggression continues, it is now necessary to increase assistance to Ukraine.
"Spain is betting on Ukraine's security in the face of Putin. We have just signed a security agreement that is very important. This treaty is about the future, and it is an example of our determination to provide Ukraine with all the tools to ensure stability," he said.