Uncommon Knowledge
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez signed a bilateral security agreement in Madrid on Monday.
The agreement allocates 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) of military aid to Ukraine in 2024 amid the country’s fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, which launched over two years ago.
The Associated Press reported that the aid for Kiev includes anti-aircraft missiles, Leopard tanks and ammunition.
Earlier on Monday, El Pais newspaper reported that Spain would send Ukraine a dozen U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, 19 second-hand German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks, as well as other Spanish-made weapons such as anti-drone gear and ammunition.
Reuters reported that the agreement calls for the supply of modern military equipment for ground, aerial, naval and other uses. In addition, it emphasizes protecting Ukraine’s food export routes.
The 10-year pact also allocates that Spain will send Ukraine 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) by 2027.
“It is more important than ever to redouble our support,” Sánchez told a press conference.
Newsweek emailed Spain’s Ministry of Defense and Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monday night for additional comments. This article will be updated with any provided statements.
According to Reuters, Zelensky will visit the Portuguese capital of Lisbon on Tuesday, where he is expected to sign a similar 10-year agreement. Agence France-Presse reported that Zelensky is also scheduled to visit Brussels on Tuesday, as he continues to push for additional support from Western allies.
Earlier this month, President Joe Biden‘s administration announced a $400 million Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) military aid package for Ukraine. PDA allows for an expedited delivery of military assistance to foreign countries in times of need.
Germany announced recently that it will purchase three new M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems—colloquially known as HIMARS—from the U.S. Armed Forces for Ukraine.
Russia has been slowly pushing the front lines in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Zelensky said on Sunday that Moscow appeared to be preparing for a new offensive in the Kharkiv region as well, which has seen an increased number of attacks from Russian troops in recent weeks.
“The one who does all this doesn’t want peace,” Zelensky said in a video address on Sunday.
Reuters reported last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin was looking to “freeze” fighting along the current front lines, according to four Russian sources familiar with the matter. One senior Kremlin official told the news outlet that Putin was “ready for a ceasefire” in fighting as well.
Peace negotiations have been presented by both sides in the war on multiple occasions, although Ukraine and Russia have yet to agree to a set of standards for a pause in fighting.
Meanwhile, Russia’s military began nuclear-weapon drills on Tuesday in response to “provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation,” according to the country’s defense ministry.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.