The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, attends online the Coalition of Volunteers for Ukraine
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has intensified his bilateral and multilateral contact with Ukraine in recent weeks to show Spain's unwavering support at a key moment when peace is starting to be discussed. For the third consecutive year since the start of the Russian invasion, Ukraine is a main beneficiary of humanitarian assistance from Cooperación Española, from which it has received €110 million, including decentralised cooperation.
This month alone, and the last time as recently as this morning, the minister has twice taken part in the Coalition of Volunteers for Ukraine's Security, of which Spain has been a member from the outset, and which brings together the European countries and allies most committed to Ukraine's defence and security.
Today's meeting emphasised the unity of all participants, the support for President Zelenski in defending Ukraine's sovereignty and integrity, the need for a ceasefire, and the security guarantees that need to be put on the table to ensure that there are no future aggressions. The minister said that the need for Europe to be involved in this peace has also been highlighted, because what happens in Ukraine has a direct impact on Europe's security.
Numerous contacts
Furthermore, on 11 August Albares took part in the meeting of the Extraordinary Council of Foreign Ministers, where the latest diplomatic developments and the first meetings to discuss peace were discussed. In the past week, he has held telephone conversations with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, and with Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Taras Kachka.
To the first he conveyed his support and solidarity at this crucial time, reiterating that Spain is working for a just and lasting peace with a ceasefire as an essential first step. Meanwhile, his conversation with Kachka revolved around Ukraine's European integration process into the EU. Spain supported the opening of negotiations during its presidency of the Council and continues to support the process in its progress, arguing that Ukraine is part of the European family and shares its values.
Humanitarian assistance
For the third consecutive year since the conflict began in Ukraine, and through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Foreign Affairs is continuing its intense humanitarian, financial, and reconstruction work in the Slavic country. In 2025, humanitarian assistance to Ukraine still has a clear focus on three axes: displaced persons and refugees, infrastructure and energy from an "early reconstruction" perspective, and gender.
From 2022 to mid-2025, Spanish Development Cooperation, including decentralised cooperation, allocated €110 million in humanitarian action to Ukraine. Much of this assistance has been channelled through the humanitarian appeals of various international UN agencies.
Among the projects aimed at this reconstruction is the Specialised Medical and Health Training programme already under way at the Lviv Regional Veterans' Hospital, and which has already organised its first training stays for 11 Ukrainian doctors at the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital in Madrid. For three years, AECID has been supporting the Ukrainian mother and child hospital system with the acquisition of 30 mobile incubators for premature babies, 30 vehicles for mobile sexual and reproductive health units, and 2 armoured medical ambulances.
The project for the reconstruction, reform and improvement of eight schools and educational centres, which among other things seeks to improve the energy efficiency of the buildings with an investment of €4 million, also stands out. Another example is the creation of the Leopolis cultural centre, inaugurated by Minister Albares in January, and various AECID activities for the protection and promotion of Ukrainian culture, for a total of €350,000 between 2023 and 2025.
Non official translation
