Robles talks with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in preparation for the upcoming meeting in Ramstein

The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, held a videoconference with her US counterpart, Lloyd Austin, at the latter's request. During the interview, the minister was accompanied by Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez, Secretary General for Defence Policy.

The defence ministers exchanged information on the current situation on the ground and coordinated the positions of the two countries ahead of the next ministerial meeting of the Defence Contact Group on Ukraine, to be held in Ramstein, Germany, on Friday 21 April.

In this context, Minister Robles reported on the priority support needs expressed by the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Oleksii Reznikov, during his visit to Madrid on Wednesday, where the two ministers discussed how best to meet these needs. Austin extended a warm thank you to Spain for its continued commitment to Ukraine and its agility in responding to Ukraine's priority requirements.

Last, Secretary Austin expressed his condolences for the recent death of Admiral Antonio Martorell Lacave, Chief of Staff of the Navy, a gesture for which the minister expressed her heartfelt gratitude.

Non official translation