Kiev (EFE).- The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, arrived in Kiev today to meet with the Ukrainian President, Volodímir Zelenski, on the first day of the Spanish presidency of the European Union (EU) and with a clear message of support Ukraine’s aspirations to open negotiations for access to the European club this year.
“I wanted the first act of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU to be in Ukraine together with Volodímir Zelensk”, Sánchez wrote on his Twitter account when announcing his arrival in the Ukrainian capital.
“I will transfer to your Government and Parliament all the European solidarity. We will maintain our support for the Ukrainian people until peace returns to Europe”, added the President of the Spanish Government, who has published a video of his arrival by train at the Kiev station.
Zelenski’s good harmony with Sánchez
In an interview granted yesterday in the Ukrainian capital to Spanish media, Zelenski highlighted the good harmony with Sánchez, thanked the Spanish people for their military, economic and humanitarian aid and recognized the Spanish generosity when it came to hosting Ukrainian refugees, in mostly women and children.
Zelensky reaffirmed his hope that Ukraine’s European expectations will be on track this year with a positive assessment from Brussels in October of Kiev’s work to align with EU standards, which would allow entry negotiations to begin under the Spanish rotating presidency. which ends at the end of the year.
Asked about an eventual visit to Spain, Zelenski stressed his willingness and left open the possibility that the issue could be dealt with today in his meeting with Sánchez.
Another short-term Ukrainian priority is the NATO summit to be held in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Kiev hopes to receive a firm invitation to join the Alliance when the war ends.
Zelenski is looking for support to get it and will also address this matter with Sánchez.
The delivery of new military aid requested by Ukraine could also be among the topics of the meeting.