<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Ukraine and the European Union's relationship with the US are the two main topics of the informal meeting of Foreign ministers that the Polish Presidency is organizing in Warsaw on May 7 and 8, with the participation of Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, representing Spain.</strong></h4> Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas will host an informal meeting of EU foreign ministers in the Gymnich format at the Polish Army Museum in Warsaw. Gymnich meetings have been held regularly since 1974, once every six months. According to a press release from the Foreign Ministry, Albares will assure his counterparts that Spain will continue to assist Ukraine through the bilateral security agreement and by providing military equipment so that the country can defend itself against Russian aggression. These approaches, according to the Ministry, "are in line with the European ministers' intention to contribute to Ukraine's defense and strengthen its negotiating position to achieve a just and lasting peace." "In this regard, the EU is paying special attention to financial and military support for Ukraine, pressure on Russia, Ukraine's accession process to the EU, and the strengthening of European defense capabilities," it added. Regarding the EU and the US, Albares will advocate for a balanced and mutually beneficial relationship between two regions that, according to the Ministry, have been "historically natural allies and have sufficient tools to advance that relationship." Also attending the meeting is British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, with whom the Foreign Ministers of the Twenty-Seven will hold a working session to address issues of common interest, such as Ukraine, European security, the Middle East, Sudan, and European security and defense. “Albares will use the meeting to remind his British counterpart that the United Kingdom and the EU share interests and values; and will invite him to continue defending a world order based on international law and multilateralism,” he added. On April 24, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in London that the European Union and the United Kingdom are working on a bilateral strategic agreement on security and defense with the aim of strengthening cooperation in an international context marked by common challenges.
