Albares urges NATO to step up support for Ukraine and pressure Russia to end aggression

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, speaks to the press

José Manuel Albares urged, during the NATO foreign ministers' meeting, continued support for Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression and increased pressure on Russia to end it.

Albares, who participated in this meeting along with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Sybiha, and the High Representative of the European Union, Kakha Kallas, emphasised that it is being held at a decisive moment to move towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, to restore peace and security to our continent.

The Minister stated that "Spain and Europe, and, of course, Ukraine, want peace, and we will continue to support all efforts to move towards it." A peace that must be "credible, just, and lasting" and that cannot be a reward for the aggressor or a mere interlude between wars.

He also emphasised the role of the United States as Europe's historical and natural ally, whose contribution is essential to achieving peace in Ukraine. A peace that "is linked to the security of Europe and the entire Euro-Atlantic area, and that is why all allies must be involved in it," the minister stated.

Albares recalled that NATO is an Alliance of democracies and warned that Russia represents a threat to both them and Ukrainian democracy. Specifically, the minister referred to Russian disinformation, its hybrid actions, and its destabilising efforts throughout the European sphere, including our Southern Neighbourhood, as threats against which we must defend ourselves.

Spain's role in NATO

The minister highlighted Spain's contributions to NATO deterrence and defence, citing the exemplary deployment of our Armed Forces on the Alliance's Eastern Flank and in the mission in Iraq. He added that Spain advocates a comprehensive vision of security, which necessarily includes crisis prevention and response, strengthening deterrence and defence, economic security, and action in the energy, climate, and health sectors, in the face of terrorism and hybrid threats, including disinformation.

Albares took advantage of the meeting to meet with his counterparts from Germany, Johann Wadephul; Poland, Radosław Sikorski; Canada, Anita Anand; Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys; and Norway, Espen Barth, to whom he conveyed Spain's commitment to Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security, as well as relevant aspects of the bilateral relationship. He also discussed Euro-Atlantic security with the head of the US delegation, Christopher Landau.

Non official translation