The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises against travelling to Ukraine because of the “volatile security situation” in the country due to rising tensions with Russia and recommends that Spaniards living there “seriously” consider leaving the country “temporarily”.
The department headed by José Manuel Albares updated yesterday on its website the recommendations for travel to Ukraine, and in them urges the Spanish community in that country, consisting of about 500 people, to leave the country by commercial means available “while the current circumstances persist”.
Ministry sources confirmed to Europa Press that Spain is “prepared” to activate the evacuation arrangements in Ukraine, but asked for calm to be maintained.
For the moment, the situation is being “analysed” but the evacuation mechanism is “ready” to be activated “if necessary”, said the same sources, who added that many other EU and NATO countries have decided “not to change anything for the moment” and maintain the same position as Spain.
The European Union yesterday gave its members the freedom to decide to withdraw their non-essential diplomatic workers from Ukraine, as the United States and the United Kingdom have already done. The Spanish government has so far not adopted such a position.
The Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, yesterday called the King and the leader of the opposition, Pablo Casado, to inform them of the new travel recommendations adopted, in the framework of the meeting of European Union ambassadors in Kiev, as he reported on his Twitter account.
Sánchez thanked Casado for his support, and Casado reported the call on the same social network, indicating that he had reiterated the PP’s support “so that the Government fulfils Spain’s responsibilities within the framework of NATO and the EU”.
In a statement issued by Moncloa, it is pointed out that In the statement, Moncloa assures that the President of the Government will keep them “punctually informed” about the evolution of events.
The head of the Executive also indicated that he had informed the partners in the coalition government through the Second Vice-President, Yolanda Díaz, and that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, would inform the spokespersons of the parliamentary groups.
From Cadiz, the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, insisted on her confidence in the success of “the diplomatic route and the route of dialogue” and stressed “the unity of all NATO members, at what she described as a “difficult” time”.
