Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Madrid on Monday where he was expected to sign a bilateral security agreement with Spain that will help his country fight its more than two-year war with Russia amid a recent offensive by the Kremlin’s forces. Spain’s King Felipe VI met Zelenskyy at the capital’s Barajas airport. The Ukrainian leader was due to hold talks with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez about what local media reported is a planned 1.1 billion-euro ($1.2 billion) agreement for Spain to supply Ukraine with more weapons.
Quick Read
Certainly! Here are the key points of the story in bullet form:
- Zelenskyy’s Visit to Spain:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Madrid on Monday for a bilateral security agreement with Spain.
- The visit aims to secure more weapons to support Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
- Welcoming and Meetings:
- Spain’s King Felipe VI welcomed Zelenskyy at Barajas airport.
- Zelenskyy is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
- Bilateral Security Agreement:
- Local media reported a planned 1.1 billion-euro ($1.2 billion) agreement for Spain to supply Ukraine with additional weapons.
- Postponed Visit:
- Zelenskyy’s visit was initially planned for earlier in the month but was postponed due to a Russian offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region.
- Current Military Situation:
- The Russian offensive has strained Ukraine’s army, which is also facing pressure in the eastern Donetsk region.
- Zelenskyy reported that Russian forces are massing at another point close to the front line.
- Western Intelligence:
- A Western intelligence assessment suggested the Kharkiv front has stabilized with fragmented Russian control.
- The U.K. defense ministry indicated Russia’s initial momentum in Kharkiv has been contained by Ukrainian resistance.
- Ukraine’s Military Needs:
- Slow Western support, including delayed U.S. military aid, has left Ukraine vulnerable to Russia’s larger military.
- The bilateral deal with Spain reportedly includes U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems, Leopard tanks, and 155mm artillery shells.
- Ongoing Support:
- Spain will continue to train Ukrainian troops and treat wounded soldiers as part of the agreement.
The Associated Press has the story:
Zelenskyy visits Spain in pursuit of more weapons to fight Russia with
Newslooks- MADRID (AP) —
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Madrid on Monday where he was expected to sign a bilateral security agreement with Spain that will help his country fight its more than two-year war with Russia amid a recent offensive by the Kremlin’s forces.
Spain’s King Felipe VI met Zelenskyy at the capital’s Barajas airport. The Ukrainian leader was due to hold talks with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez about what local media reported is a planned 1.1 billion-euro ($1.2 billion) agreement for Spain to supply Ukraine with more weapons.
Zelenskyy had been due to visit Spain earlier this month but he postponed all his foreign trips after the Kremlin’s forces launched a cross-border offensive in the northeastern Kharkiv region and left Ukrainian troops reeling.
That push has further strained Ukraine’s already depleted army, which in recent months has been fighting Russia’s intense drive deeper into the partially occupied eastern Donetsk region. Zelenskyy said on Sunday that the Kremlin’s army is mustering at another point in Russia, farther north but close to the approximately 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, presumably to try to crack Ukrainian resistance in the area.
A Western intelligence assessment suggested that Russia’s Kharkiv offensive has subsided.
“The northern Kharkiv front has likely stabilized with Russian territorial control fragmented and not joined up,” the U.K. defense ministry said Sunday. “Russia’s gains in this axis will be limited in the coming week, as Russia’s initial momentum has been contained by Ukrainian resistance.”
That is in line with Zelenskyy’s claim last Friday that Ukrainian forces have secured “combat control” of areas where Russian troops entered the Kharkiv region.
The onslaught unfolding as the weather improves has brought Ukraine’s biggest military test since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Slow deliveries of support by its Western partners, especially a lengthy delay in U.S. military aid, have left Ukraine at the mercy of Russia’s bigger army and air force.
Spanish newspaper El Pais, citing unidentified sources familiar with the bilateral deal, said it would include another batch of U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems that Ukraine has long pleaded for to help it fend off Russian missile attacks.
Other items include more Leopard tanks for Ukraine and 155mm artillery shells that are the most used by Ukraine on the battlefield, El Pais said. Spain will also continue training Ukrainian troops and treating its wounded soldiers.
