Eduardo González
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, yesterday held the first telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, to whom he reiterated his support for “the defense of the freedom and territorial integrity” of his country, whose place “is in the European Union.”
“I have just spoken with my Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha,” Albares said through the social network X. “I have congratulated him on his appointment and reiterated that we will work together in the defense of the freedom and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” he continued. “I also agreed that Ukraine’s place is in the European Union,” he added.
Sybiha, on the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s website, reported that she had had a “very friendly first conversation” with Albares. “I have thanked Spain and Minister Albares for their unwavering support for Ukraine,” she said. “We look forward to continuing cooperation in defence matters,” she added. “We agreed that the EU’s strategic planning must take into account Ukraine as a future member,” she concluded.
On September 5, José Manuel Albares congratulated his new Ukrainian counterpart on his appointment and assured, through X, that they will work together in the defence of freedom and sovereignty, as well as advancing “on Ukraine’s European path.” Sybiha replaced Dmytro Kuleba as part of the largest reshuffle of the Ukrainian government since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Albares recalled that same day that he had worked closely with Kuleba in defense of Ukraine’s freedom and sovereignty and in the opening of negotiations for accession to the European Union during the Spanish presidency in the second half of 2023.
