The President of the Government of Spain announces the mobilisation of 817 million euros to strengthen Ukraine's defence and accelerate its reconstruction

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during their visit to the Reina Sofía National Art Centre Museum (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has received the President of Ukraine, Volodímir Zelenski, at the Moncloa Palace as part of his third visit to Spain. The meeting was marked by the strengthening of political, military, and economic support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

During the bilateral meeting, Volodymyr Zelensky briefed Pedro Sánchez on the situation on the ground and the urgent need for support to cope with the winter and protect the civilian population from supply cuts and bombings. In his response, the President of the Government of Spain reiterated the Government of Spain's firm and total support for the Government of Ukraine and its President, and stressed that "the war against Putin's neo-imperialism is also a war that seeks to weaken the European project."

Before the meeting, the President of the Government of Spain accompanied the President of Ukraine to the Reina Sofía Museum, where he showed him Picasso's 'Guernica'. Pedro Sánchez recalled that it was Picasso's wish that Guernica should only be exhibited in Spain when the country regained freedom and democracy. After half a century of dictatorship, Spain was able to become a prosperous and open democracy, finding its place in Europe and the world. "I am convinced that it will happen sooner rather than later, and our two countries will share the privilege of peace, economic development, prosperity, and the European project", said the President of the Government of Spain.

To continue supporting Ukraine, Pedro Sánchez has announced the mobilisation of 817 million euros, a package that combines resources for military, financial and humanitarian support to help strengthen Ukraine's defence and accelerate its reconstruction.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, greet each other on the steps of the Moncloa Palace | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

Firstly, with the shipment of a military support package valued at 615 million euros, which includes the shipment of new defence equipment worth approximately 300 million euros and which is part of the bilateral security agreement between Spain and Ukraine; the transfer of 100 million euros to NATO's PURL programme to finance the accelerated acquisition of air defence systems; and the transfer of 215 million euros through the European Union's SAFE Instrument to finance the production of anti-drone systems, search and air surveillance radars, many of them developed by Spanish companies.

Secondly, with the deployment of a new financial support instrument, coordinated by the new Office for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, worth 200 million euros, which will serve to boost reconstruction. This instrument will allow Spanish companies to participate directly and competitively in the reconstruction, modernisation, and expansion of damaged infrastructure, with a particular focus on sectors such as energy, transport, and water management.

A new project by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the United Nations, worth nearly 2 million euros, has also been announced to rebuild the central heating system in the town of Sammar, with the aim of restoring heating for more than 28,000 people.

In parallel, several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) have been signed: one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation to combat Russian disinformation, and another from the Ministry of Industry and Tourism to strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector.

Non official translation