Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to Kiev on Saturday to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledge the European Union’s support to him.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to Kiev for the first day of the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. This “highly symbolic” visit was welcomed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who continues to advocate rapprochement with Western countries and asks to be invited to the next NATO summit while the Ukrainian army continues its counter-offensive. Here’s what you’ll remember from that day.
According to the US, Kiev troops cover “500, 1,000, 2,000 meters a day”.
U.S. Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley said Ukraine’s counteroffensive was “progressing more slowly than predicted.” Still, the Ukrainian army is making “continuous advances” “500, 1,000, 2,000 meters a day,” he continued.
Ukraine said on Saturday it was waging “relentless” fighting as part of a counteroffensive that began about a month ago but has yet to make a decisive breakthrough. The Ukrainian army is hampered by a lack of armaments and artillery, according to its commander-in-chief Valery Zalouzhny in an interview published by The Washington Post on Friday.
A “highly symbolic” visit by the Spanish Prime Minister
Pedro Sanchez reiterated the support of the EU in Kiev. “From the European Union’s perspective on Ukraine’s accession, my presence on the first day of this six-month presidency (…) demonstrates a clear and unequivocal political commitment on the part of the Community institutions,” assured the head of the Spanish government during a joint press conference with the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Thank you for your important visit and your support for our people!” the Ukrainian president replied on Twitter, welcoming a “highly symbolic” visit. However, Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that “some” Western partners are “sluggish” in training Ukrainian airmen to fly fighter jets. “Do you have any idea when Ukraine can get F-16s?” he asked at the joint press conference. “There is no schedule for training missions.”
All eyes are on the next NATO summit
“We need a very clear and understandable signal at the Vilnius summit that Ukraine can become a full member of NATO after the war,” stressed the Ukrainian President at the same press conference. The next NATO summit is scheduled for July 11-12 in the capital of Lithuania. “This invitation to the alliance is the first step, very concrete, which would be very important for us.”
In a joint press release issued after this press conference, Spain supports “the strengthening of the NATO-Ukraine partnership, including the creation of a NATO-Ukraine Council”.