The Diplomat
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dimitro Kuleba, yesterday expressly asked the Spanish government to send more tanks, armoured vehicles and anti-aircraft defence systems, arguing that as long as the war continues his country will need military support from European countries.
Kuleba made the request to the acting foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, during the bilateral meeting that they both held in the margins of the informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in Toledo, to which the head of Ukrainian diplomacy was invited, reports Europa Press.
“When we win the war, I will come out publicly and say that we do not need more weapons”, Kuleba assured the press, stressing that “as long as we continue to fight, we will need more”, “not because we are greedy” but “to restore peace in Europe”.
For this reason, he told Albares that Ukraine would welcome “more tanks, armoured vehicles and air defence systems” from Spain. “This is something we are asking all countries for, and Spain is no exception,” he said.
The Ukrainian minister expressed the gratitude of Volodimir Zelenski’s government for the help provided so far by Spain. “It was one of the first to send HAWKS” air defence systems last autumn when the Russian missile attacks began”, he said.
Albares responded by assuring him that the government, “as it always does” when it receives requests from Ukraine, “studies them and, to the extent of our possibilities“, deals with them. “I have once again assured him that Spain will help and support Ukraine for as long as necessary in all aspects”, he stressed.
“The will to help Ukraine defend its defenceless civilians, its sovereignty and its territorial integrity for as long as necessary is present and will not change”, the foreign minister promised, after recalling the military material that Spain has already delivered.
On the other hand, Kuleba indicated that he has also asked all EU countries that have F-16 aircraft to follow in the footsteps of the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway and send them this type of aircraft, and not limit themselves to training Ukrainian pilots. “This is something that is easy to do now and I hope that my appeal will be heeded,” he said, hoping to receive more of these fighter jets.
On another matter, the Ukrainian minister said he believes it is “possible” to begin formal talks this year on accession to the European Union, a milestone for which he is already working with the Spanish Presidency of the Council, which, through Albares, made it clear yesterday that it hopes to see Ukraine join the European “family” “as soon as possible”.
Albares predicted that the European Commission’s report on the reforms undertaken in Kiev to integrate into the EU bloc will arrive in October. Then it will be time for “very important” decisions, he said.
The head of Ukrainian diplomacy anticipated that there will be “many important decisions” before December and said that he perceives “willingness” on the part of the EU. “We want to end the year with a very ambitious achievement, which is to move towards accession”, he stressed, although Brussels has always avoided talking about deadlines because, as it is recalled, there is no fixed timetable to adhere to.
