In Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting with Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles. The main topic of the talks was military support for Ukraine and the development of cooperation between the countries against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelensky gave Robles a detailed update on the situation at the front line and stressed the importance of supplying air defense systems, including Hawk and Patriot complexes, which, he noted, remain extremely limited at the disposal of the Ukrainian army.
During the visit, the expansion of the SAFE program—a European tool for investment in the defense industry—was discussed. Zelensky expressed hope for increased funding and the launch of new joint projects in arms production. According to him, Spain’s support is becoming critically important for defending the country against massive attacks by Russian forces.
Award for the Minister
As a sign of gratitude for Spain’s contribution to Ukraine’s defense, Zelensky presented Margarita Robles with the Order of Princess Olga, 3rd Class. This award is granted exclusively to women and is considered one of the most significant in the country. According to Spain’s Ministry of Defense, the decision to present the award is linked to Madrid’s consistent stance in supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity since the first days of the invasion.
Commenting on the ceremony, Robles noted that Spain does not intend to reduce its support for Kyiv, despite the fact that global attention has partially shifted to the Middle East. She stressed that Madrid will continue to support Ukraine, guided by the principles of solidarity and the defense of just values.
EU decisions and their impact on Spain
The meeting in Kyiv coincided with significant decisions at the European Union level. On the same day, the process began in Brussels to unblock a €90 billion credit line for Ukraine, previously blocked by Hungary. In addition, EU ambassadors approved the twentieth package of sanctions against Russia, which had long been delayed due to the positions of Budapest and Bratislava. These steps strengthen the economic and military support for Kyiv from European countries, including Spain.
The context of the new EU measures and their impact on security was also discussed at a recent meeting in Madrid, where representatives of the European Commission warned of rising threats to democratic institutions and the need for additional measures to safeguard electoral processes. More on the position of the European Union and Spain’s response can be found in the article on new EU initiatives to protect democracy.
