The Diplomat
The Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, reported yesterday at the Contact Group for Ukraine that more than 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers have already been trained in Spain.
Robles participated by videoconference in the ministerial meeting of the Contact Group convened by the United States Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, which was attended by the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Rustem Umerov.
The Group is made up of the European Union, NATO and more than 40 countries and has been meeting periodically since April 2022 to learn about the situation on the battlefield following Russia’s invasion and Ukraine’s needs, both in the short term and to address medium- and long-term forecasts.
In her speeches, Margarita Robles reported on the recent shipment to Ukraine of 15 pallets of medicines and surgical instruments, which will guarantee the operation of the field hospital donated by Spain a few months ago.
The minister also reported on the collaboration of Spanish industry in the supply of equipment and ammunition to Ukraine and detailed the support programme to receive the families of Ukrainian soldiers who have fallen in combat in military rest homes on the Spanish coast.
Also, according to the Ministry of Defence, Robles highlighted the good progress in the training of Ukrainian soldiers on Spanish territory, where more than 3,000 troops have been trained so far. She added that there are plans to begin training courses in Armed Conflict and International Humanitarian Law for legal advisors from the Ministry of Defence and the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The minister, who was accompanied by the Secretary General for Defence Policy, Admiral (R) Martínez Núñez, ended her speech by reiterating to the nations and organisations participating in the Contact Group Spain’s firm commitment to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.
