Sánchez visits Ukraine

IN the midst of his campaign for re­election, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez visited the Ukraine capital, Kyiv on Saturday July 1.

The timing is significant in that it will also serve to inaugurate the rotating presidency of the European Union, which fell to Spain on July 1.

The objective of the visit was to ‘make visible’ the Union's support for Ukraine led by President Zelensky.

President Sánchez made his first trip to Ukraine only a few weeks after the start of the invasion. This time he travelled ‘alone, together with his team’ and was expected to make a statement with Zelensky at the Kyiv presidential palace.

Sánchez’s last trip to Kyiv was made on the anniversary of the start of the war, in February of this year. At the time he promised to send up to 10 Leopard main battle tanks, six of which are already on Ukrainian soil.

In a further show of solidarity, sources close to

President Sánchez pointed out that his presence there this time aimed to show the ‘seamless support’ for Ukraine ‘in all fields: military, humanitarian and economic.’

Information from Moncloa, the president’s official residence, said that the initiative for the visit came from Sánchez himself. The date was seen as a good opportunity as it coincided with the beginning of the Spanish presidency of the EU Council.

President Zelensky expressed his hopes that the EU's support for Ukraine ‘will be maintained for as long as necessary,’ even if the conflict drags on.

Ukraine’s long­term plan is that before the end of this year, and therefore during the Spanish presidency of the Council, negotiations can be opened for the acceptance of Ukraine to the European Union.