Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy arrived in Madrid on Monday to meet Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and sign a substantial security deal. Under this agreement, Spain will supply Ukraine with €1.13 billion ($1.23 billion) worth of weapons.
King Felipe welcomed President Zelenskiy at Barajas Airport, emphasising the significance of the visit for Spain. Following this, Zelenskiy met with Prime Minister Sanchez ahead of a joint press conference scheduled for later in the afternoon.
According to El Pais, the deal includes a dozen Patriot anti-aircraft missiles and 19 second-hand German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks. These tanks, which have been out of service for several years, will require extensive refurbishment.
This contribution is in addition to 10 similar tanks already approved by Spain. The Patriot missiles, while substantial, do not include complete missile defence systems.
Spain will also supply other Spanish-made weapons such as anti-drone equipment and ammunition. These items will be manufactured by Spanish companies, including Indra IDR.MC. The Spanish government had approved the expenditure for this deal last month but did not specify which weapons were included at that time.
Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles announced last month that Spain would send Patriot missiles to Ukraine, though the exact number was not disclosed. The inclusion of these advanced defensive systems highlights Spain’s commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s military capabilities.
This agreement comes at a critical time as Ukraine continues to face significant threats from Russia. President Zelenskiy has been vocal about the need for quicker decisions from Western allies regarding military support.
He has urged partners to help intercept Russian missiles over Ukraine and allow Kyiv to use Western weapons against military threats near its border.
The signing of this security deal with Spain marks a significant step in Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its defences and secure more direct involvement from European allies.
With Inputs From Reuters
