The president of the Government, Pedro Sanchezhas reiterated the Spanish commitment to Ukraine when it is fulfilled one year after the Russian invasion and has reiterated the willingness of the Executive to send more Leopard tanks if necessary.

In an intervention before the Rada As part of his visit to Kyiv, Sánchez highlighted the “dignity” of the Ukrainians, who “fight for their right to exist and be free”, despite the destruction and suffering.

“This is the great difference between you and the enemy. You understand why you are fighting. Ukraine fights to survive, your enemy for power”, Sánchez assured the legislators.

The president described the Russian invasion as “unfair” and “illegal” and stressed that the Spanish government will increase the military contribution to the country. “In addition to other supplies, we will soon deliver fully functional Leopard 2A4 tanks for your defense”, he said, opening the door to deliver more in the future, in addition to training fifty soldiers in the use of battle tanks.

The president highlighted the closeness between Madrid and Kyiv despite the 3,600 kilometers that separate both cities, a distance that 165,000 Ukrainians have traveled seeking asylum. Sánchez has assured that this “moral duty” to welcome refugees also responds to the memory of our country, since 80 years ago it was the Spaniards who found refuge in Europe fleeing the Civil War. “Now, by giving refuge to your people, we are paying homage to that lesson in humanity,” said the president.

Sánchez has starred in a speech widely applauded by Ukrainian legislators and has become the fifth authority to be able to address the country’s Parliament, after the presidents of Poland, Lithuania, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. On Ukraine’s future membership of this last conglomerate, Sánchez recognized the country’s progress and said that during his presidency of the European semester “Ukraine will be very present”.