Sánchez promises another 55 million in aid to Ukraine and his support for it to enter the EU and NATO

President Sánchez, on the occasion of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU, promises more aid to Ukraine, assuring that he will send a new aid package for the country valued at 55 million euros regardless of the price to pay for the support that the country deserves.

“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 will meet with President Volodimir Zelensky.

“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 no matter the price“, he pointed out, before announcing for Ukraine a new aid package of 55 million euros.

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 4 million through the United Nations development program to supply green energy systems to schools.

Sánchez pointed out the “weakness” of Russia assuring that “things have changed” since his first speech before the Supreme Rada in February, when he went on the occasion of the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine to show Spain’s support for the country.

Ukraine is going to win the war because it has already won the battle of ideas by choosing Europe.

The EU rose to avoid wars. We decided to unite in our diversity, and that made us stronger.

Europe is with you. pic.twitter.com/6r370BcjlU

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) July 1, 2023

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 4 million through the United Nations development program to supply green energy systems to schools.

Sánchez pointed out the “weakness” of Russia assuring that “things have changed” since his first speech before the Supreme Rada in February, when he went on the occasion of the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine to show Spain’s support for the country.

[La UE se divide sobre las “garantías de seguridad” a Ucrania para frenar al Kremlin tras la guerra]

Entry into the EU and NATO

For the President of the Government, “Ukraine is European because of its valuesbecause it has decided to defend democracy and the freedom of its citizens” and expressed the conviction that it will win its counteroffensive.

Regarding Ukraine’s entry into the EU, he indicated that it won’t be “an easy process” with reforms, which will be hard at the beginning but beneficial in the long term to improve the economy, attract investment and strengthen 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.”

In addition, Sánchez has promised the support of Spain so that Ukraine is part of both NATO and the European Union and assuring that they will support the country led by Zelenski “as long as it takes.”

[Alemania promete una ayuda de casi 3.000 millones a Ucrania: “Somos serios en el apoyo”]

The President of the Government also spoke about 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 Councilas a way to increase political participation in the kyiv alliance, which would thus stop being “a guest”.

He stressed that Spain will also continue to comply “with its part”, supplying more Leopard main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers and a field hospital with surgical capacity. “We also continue to reach out to other countries and continents, to explain what is really happening in Ukraine, but also to listen to their concerns, especially those related to food or energy insecurity,” Sánchez concluded.