Robles receives the Ukrainian Minister for Defence, Oleksii Reznikov and reiterates her full support for the defence of democratic values

The Ukrainian Defence Minister was received with military honours at the Ministry's head office and together with Minister Robles they reviewed the Force. During the subsequent meeting, Robles stressed the solid commitment of the Spanish people and its Armed Forces to Ukraine, whose efforts to recover its sovereignty, its freedom and the protection of human rights violated by the Russian invasion "we support unwaveringly".

The meeting was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD), Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, and the Secretary General for Defence Policy (SEGENPOL), Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez. The Ukrainian delegation was represented by the Ukrainian ambassador to Spain, Serhii Pohoreltsev, and the Chief of Staff of the Ukrainian Navy, Rear Admiral Oleksii Neizhpapa. The two ministers then held a joint press conference.

"It is an honour and a pleasure to welcome my dear friend Oleksii, with whom I visited in Odessa. Spain and Ukraine are united at the moment", stressed Robles, who explained that the purpose of today's meeting was to see in what areas - "always with the obvious prudence and discretion because we are in a war" - that Spain will continue to help by sending all kinds of material.

"Ukraine is not only defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity, it is defending our values, the values of the community that believes in peace and democracy", she said, adding that "our support, together with our partners and allies in NATO and the European Union", is total and absolute and will remain so for as long as necessary".

Robles assured that Spain will continue with the training work, since "more than a thousand Ukrainian soldiers have been and are being trained here in Spain, and I can say that they have given us all an example of heroism and commitment to Ukraine and to peace".

The Spanish Defence Minister reiterated that six Leopard 2A4 battle tanks are due to be sent by sea in the next few days after undergoing repairs in Alcalá de Guadaira, as well as 20 TAT vehicles. She also paid a special tribute "to all the Ukrainian people, especially the dead and their families".

Priorities for Ukraine

The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, and her Ukrainian counterpart, Oleksii Reznikov, during the joint press conference after their meeting in Madrid

For his part, the Ukrainian minister expressed his total gratitude to the minister, whom he referred to as "his great friend, Ms Robles", as well as to the entire Government of Spain for its political, diplomatic and humanitarian support, and expressed his confidence in its continuity.

"My priority is to keep our military alive, so I am very grateful for what we are receiving from Spain", the minister said. "We hope that by the end of this month the Leopard tanks will start roaring into Ukraine with a Spanish accent".

The Ukrainian Defence Minister said that during the meeting with the Spanish delegation he had raised the current priorities for his country, such as anti-aircraft defence and artillery. "For us, anti-aircraft systems are the number one priority, whatever they can include", he said. He also hoped that the training of Ukrainian military personnel in Spain would continue.

Reznikov also highlighted the Spanish Navy's experience in amphibious vehicles and landings, which are key to guaranteeing security in the Black Sea and in maritime traffic and transport, stressing their importance for a country that is a major agricultural producer. In this regard, he stated that thanks to the Coalition and some of the Spanish materials, grain will reach African countries and their famine can be alleviated.

"The Spanish Navy is one of the most highly regarded, experienced and best in the world, and we are interested in everything that can help us raise our level and capabilities", said the minister.

Reznikov said he was "absolutely sure that Ukraine will win this war, but we have to think in strategic terms".

Continuous support

Bilaterally and in the humanitarian field, Spain has provided continuous support since the Russian invasion. More than 150,000 people have arrived in Spain and enjoy temporary protection. The Ministry of Defence has contributed to the transfer of more than 650 people on 19 humanitarian flights bringing orphans, disabled children, children undergoing cancer treatment, as well as war wounded and their families to Spain.

In regard to training, Spain provides military instruction to the Ukrainian military at the Toledo Training Coordination Centre, where the number of soldiers trained by the Spanish Armed Forces is already close to 1,000 according to the minister, and the total number is expected to be at least 2,000 this year.

In terms of logistical and material support, a steady flow of equipment shipments has been maintained since the beginning of the conflict, including counter-tank weapons, light weapons and ammunition, air defence material and naval systems, as well as TAT (Tracked Armoured Transport) chain vehicles and ambulances.

After a working lunch, both delegations went to the Gómez Ulla Central Defence Hospital to visit the Ukrainian wounded hospitalised there and to decorate the medical staff of this centre and of the General Defence Hospital of Zaragoza, who are helping patients with major amputations and mutilations to recover.

Non official translation