Pedro Sánchez rules out “the deployment of Spanish troops on Ukrainian soil”

Eduardo González/Ane Barcos The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, defended this Thursday in Brussels the need to continue supporting Ukraine to defend “the values and the common European project”, but ruled out the “deployment of Spanish troops on Ukrainian soil” in the event of a peace agreement, as proposed by the French President, Emmanuel Macron. “We have reaffirmed our indispensable commitment to continue supporting Ukraine, because we are talking about security, values and the European project,” declared Sánchez in the press conference after the last European Council of 2025. According to the President of the Government, the European leaders have confirmed in Brussels “the unity around a common cause that transcends the territory of Ukraine” and have shown their “almost absolute support” for the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky (who spoke before the Council), and his “battle for the European project”. “From there, we have been discussing scenarios” and the need to “guarantee unity” in support of sanctions against Russia, in humanitarian security and in military aid, he continued. Regarding the proposal to send European troops to Ukraine in the event that a peace agreement is reached with Russia, Sánchez recalled that Spain signed “months ago” a “bilateral agreement with Ukraine that will last ten years and is intended to be permanent,” but “we do not see a deployment of Spanish troops on Ukrainian soil.” The issue was addressed this past Monday during the Foreign Affairs Council (CAE), in which the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, assured journalists that at this time the possibility of sending European troops to control a future ceasefire in Ukraine is not being discussed. “We are in the realm of speculation. It is not a debate at this time among Europeans,” he assured. “It is not something that Spain is considering,” he added. For her part, the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy of the EU, Kaja Kallas, also warned before the CAE that, in order for the possibility of sending a “peacekeeping mission” to arise, first “there must be peace” and “Russia does not want peace, that is clear.” The French president, Emmanuel Macron, insisted this past Monday on his proposal to deploy troops in some areas of Ukraine to guarantee the security of the country while it advances in its process of joining NATO. Regarding the Middle East, Pedro Sánchez defended this Thursday that the EU play a “much more active, determined and vocal role in favor of the two-state solution” and in the holding of the Peace Conference in June 2025, “sponsored by the UN and promoted by Spain, by other European countries and Arab countries.” In the same sense, the president of the Government asked that the EU play a “decisive role in the reconstruction and pacification” of Syria. On other issues, Pedro Sánchez called for the “rapid and equitable application” of the European Pact on Migration and Asylum, “with economic resources”, and for “special attention to be paid to the Sahel and West Africa” to address this issue. Also, and on the subject of the climate emergency, he made a “call for the adoption of a European climate adaptation plan”. Zelensky During the Council meeting, European leaders agreed on Thursday that now is not the time to start peace negotiations with Russia, warning that premature dialogue could weaken Ukraine and reinforce Moscow's expansionist ambitions. For his part, Zelensky stressed that "European guarantees are not enough for Ukraine. It is not enough to talk only with European leaders; our real guarantees, present or future, are in NATO." In this context, he insisted that the support of the United States and Europe must remain firm and coordinated, as an indispensable condition for achieving a lasting peace that prevents any new escalation of Russian aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky participated on Thursday in the last European Summit of the year and warned that a pause in the conflict, without solid guarantees, would only serve to allow Russia to reorganize its forces and prolong its aggression, insisting that Europe and the United States must be present in any future negotiations, with a clear and coordinated position that strengthens the possibilities of a sustainable peace. The Ukrainian president stressed that military support remains an urgent priority for kyiv, insisting on the supply of weapons, air defense systems and advanced military equipment to respond to massive missile attacks by Russia. Zelensky stressed the need for Ukraine to advance its integration into both the EU and NATO, stating that geopolitical clarity is essential for Russia to recognize the need for peace. He called on the bloc to make tangible progress in EU accession negotiations over the next year. He welcomed the opening of membership negotiations and stressed his intention to work intensively under the presidencies of Poland and Denmark to unblock the main accession clusters in the coming months. He also addressed the need to coordinate efforts with global players such as China, India, Saudi Arabia and Brazil. According to the Ukrainian president, the influence of these countries could be decisive in pressuring Russia to comply with international law. He also noted that the more active use of frozen Russian assets should be a priority to fund both Ukraine's defence and reconstruction, especially relevant in the context of the devastation caused by the Russian campaign against the country's energy infrastructure, which has left millions of people without access to basic services. The Ukrainian leader also insisted that air defence must be urgently strengthened, not only as a key element for the country's survival, but as the best response to Russia's strategic attacks. Zelensky urged Europe to ensure compliance with agreements reached with partners such as the United States to provide the necessary defence systems. He also stressed that strengthening Ukraine's defensive capabilities is also an investment in European security. For their part, the European leaders reiterated their support for Ukraine's peace formula, based on the United Nations Charter and international law. They insisted that any initiative on Ukraine must have the active participation of its government, stressing that only kyiv has the legitimacy to decide when and under what conditions to enter into negotiations. The transatlantic relationship and the EU's global leadership The Twenty-Seven underlined their commitment to strengthening ties with the United States, reaffirming its role as a key partner in the defence of common values and international stability. The leaders stressed that unity with Washington is essential to exert pressure on Russia and promote a global order based on international law. Council President António Costa emphasised that “Russian aggression is not just a war on European soil, it is a war against the international community.” Middle East Another key point of the meeting was the debate on the Middle East, in which the Member States emphasised the need to move towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while reaffirming support for the ceasefire in Gaza and calling for urgent humanitarian access for the affected population. Concern was also expressed over Israeli policies affecting the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, highlighting its importance for regional stability. In parallel, the situation in Lebanon was addressed, with emphasis on the need to strengthen its institutions and overcome the political deadlock, while in Syria the commitment to an inclusive political solution after years of conflict was underlined.

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