Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez traveled to kyiv on Saturday to meet Volodymyr Zelensky and assure him of the European Union’s support.
For the first day of the Spanish presidency of the European Union, the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez went to kyiv. This visit “extremely symbolic” was welcomed by Volodymyr Zelensky, who continues to plead for a rapprochement with Western countries, asking to be invited to the next NATO summit, while the Ukrainian army continues its counter-offensive. Here’s what to remember from the day.
Kyiv troops win “500, 1000, 2000 meters per day” according to the United States
The Ukrainian counter-offensive “going slower than predicted”said US Chief of Staff Mark Milley. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian army is doing “continuous progress”of“500, 1,000, 2,000 meters per day”he continued.
Ukraine said on Saturday fighting battles “relentless” as part of its counter-offensive, launched about a month ago, but which it has yet to see a decisive breakthrough. The Ukrainian army is hampered by a lack of armament and artillery, according to its commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny in an interview published Friday by the Washington Post.
Visit “extremely symbolic” of the Spanish Prime Minister
Pedro Sanchez reiterated EU support in kyiv. “From the point of view of the European Union on Ukraine’s accession, my presence on the first day of this six-month presidency (…) proves 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 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Thank you for your important visit and your support of our people!” replied on Twitter the Ukrainian president, who welcomed a visit “extremely symbolic”. Volodymyr Zelensky, however, judged that “some” western partners “dragging feet” on the training of Ukrainian airmen in the piloting of combat aircraft. “Do they have any idea when Ukraine will be able to get F-16s?”he asked during the joint press conference. “There is no timetable for training missions”.
All eyes on the next NATO summit
“We need a very clear and intelligible signal at the Vilnius summit that Ukraine can become a full member of NATO after the war”, underlined the Ukrainian president during 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 published after this press conference ensures that Spain “supports the strengthening of the partnership between NATO and Ukraine, including through the creation of a NATO-Ukraine Council”.