Spain and Ukraine coordinate military support ahead of Contact Group meeting and following Orbán’s defeat

Eduardo González Defense Minister Margarita Robles held a videoconference on Monday, April 13, with Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov to coordinate military support and tailor aid to the most urgent needs on the ground. This comes just two days before the next meeting of the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine, scheduled for April 15, and only one day after the electoral defeat of the main rival of Ukrainian interests in the European Union, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. According to a press release from the Ministry, Robles informed her counterpart that Spain continues to work on new assistance projects for 2026, with a particular focus on priority capabilities such as air defense, artillery ammunition, and unmanned systems. She also reiterated the Spanish government's commitment to allocate another one billion euros to military assistance for Ukraine in 2026 and its willingness to continue strengthening cooperation between the defense industries of both countries. For his part, the Ukrainian minister expressly thanked Spain for its political and military support, particularly the latest batch of anti-aircraft aid intended for the defense of the civilian population, which included Patriot missiles, and praised the speed of Spain's response. At the end of the conversation, the minister reiterated that Spain will stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary. "It is a cruel and very difficult war," Robles stated. "Everything that is happening in the Middle East cannot make us forget what has been happening in Ukraine for the last four years," she insisted. Orbán In statements to the TVE program ‘La hora de La 1’, Robles stated that the election results in Hungary, which have ended 16 years of rule by the far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in favor of the pro-European conservative Peter Magyar, in addition to representing “a very clear defeat for that far-right international movement which, indeed, we have seen here in Spain with Vox,” is “positive news that, we hope, will help in the pursuit of peace in Ukraine,” she affirmed. “All the decisions that have been made” in Europe “to support Ukraine with sanctions against Russia were systematically vetoed by Orbán, and, of course, we must welcome this with hope that it can help the European Union’s support for Ukraine.” “We are going to continue supporting Ukraine because we believe in a just peace, in a lasting peace, and we cannot forget that, on the part of Russia, on the part of (its president, Vladimir) Putin, all the norms of international law are being violated,” she asserted. Orbán's defeat has been welcomed in Ukraine. The country's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, congratulated Petr Magyar "on his resounding victory." "We are ready to hold meetings and work together constructively for the benefit of both nations, as well as for peace, security, and stability in Europe," Zelenskyy added. For his part, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Ukraine looks forward to establishing contact with Hungary's new government and noted that both countries have a broad agenda of common issues, including cooperation within the European framework, Ukraine's accession to the EU and the lifting of Hungary's veto, the adoption of the twentieth EU sanctions package against Russia, and a €90 billion macro-financial assistance package for Ukraine—two measures currently stalled due to Orbán's veto. At a press conference on Monday, Magyar stated that he would support the agreement reached last December by the European Council to provide €90 billion to Ukraine, but would also argue that Hungary should be exempt from contributing funds because the country is “in a very difficult financial situation.” He also declared that he supports Ukraine's accession to the EU, but not in an “accelerated” manner, because “it would be impossible for a country at war to be admitted to the EU” and all candidate countries “must go through the same process,” which should conclude with a referendum in Hungary, something he warned should not happen “in the next ten years.” Magyar also stated that Hungary “cannot change geography” and will need to find a way to continue importing energy resources, including those from Russia. According to a press release from the Ministry, Robles informed her counterpart that Spain continues to work on new assistance projects for 2026, with a particular focus on priority capabilities such as air defense, artillery ammunition, and unmanned systems. She also reiterated the Spanish government's commitment to allocate another one billion euros to military assistance for Ukraine in 2026 and its willingness to continue strengthening cooperation between the defense industries of both countries. For his part, the Ukrainian minister expressly thanked Spain for its political and military support, particularly the latest batch of anti-aircraft aid intended for the defense of the civilian population, which included Patriot missiles, and praised the speed of Spain's response. At the end of the conversation, the minister reiterated that Spain will stand by Ukraine for as long as necessary. "It is a cruel and very difficult war," Robles stated. "Everything that is happening in the Middle East cannot make us forget what has been happening in Ukraine for the last four years," she insisted. Orbán In statements to the TVE program ‘La hora de La 1’, Robles stated that the election results in Hungary, which have ended 16 years of rule by the far-right Prime Minister Viktor Orbán in favor of the pro-European conservative Peter Magyar, in addition to representing “a very clear defeat for that far-right international movement which, indeed, we have seen here in Spain with Vox,” is “positive news that, we hope, will help in the pursuit of peace in Ukraine,” she affirmed. “All the decisions that have been made” in Europe “to support Ukraine with sanctions against Russia were systematically vetoed by Orbán, and, of course, we must welcome this with hope that it can help the European Union’s support for Ukraine.” “We are going to continue supporting Ukraine because we believe in a just peace, in a lasting peace, and we cannot forget that, on the part of Russia, on the part of (its president, Vladimir) Putin, all the norms of international law are being violated,” she asserted. Orbán's defeat has been welcomed in Ukraine. The country's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, congratulated Petr Magyar "on his resounding victory." "We are ready to hold meetings and work together constructively for the benefit of both nations, as well as for peace, security, and stability in Europe," Zelenskyy added. For his part, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha stated that Ukraine looks forward to establishing contact with Hungary's new government and noted that both countries have a broad agenda of common issues, including cooperation within the European framework, Ukraine's accession to the EU and the lifting of Hungary's veto, the adoption of the twentieth EU sanctions package against Russia, and a €90 billion macro-financial assistance package for Ukraine—two measures currently stalled due to Orbán's veto. At a press conference on Monday, Magyar stated that he would support the agreement reached last December by the European Council to provide €90 billion to Ukraine, but would also argue that Hungary should be exempt from contributing funds because the country is “in a very difficult financial situation.” He also declared that he supports Ukraine's accession to the EU, but not in an “accelerated” manner, because “it would be impossible for a country at war to be admitted to the EU” and all candidate countries “must go through the same process,” which should conclude with a referendum in Hungary, something he warned should not happen “in the next ten years.” Magyar also stated that Hungary “cannot change geography” and will need to find a way to continue importing energy resources, including those from Russia.

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