Spain plans to allocate a new package of military aid to Ukraine in the amount of 1.129 billion euros.
The Spanish publication El Pais reports this with reference to sources.
It is noted that the amount of assistance is a record for Spain.
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It is important that most weapons will not be taken from warehouses, as was done before, but will be manufactured at Spanish defense factories.
Military aid package from Spain
The new military aid package will include 12 Patriot anti-aircraft missiles, a lot of ammunition and 19 Leopard 2A4 battle tanks, which have been removed from storage and have already begun their modernization. But the bulk of the allocated funds will go to new Spanish-made weapons.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles and her Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov agreed on a new aid package via videoconference on May 22, which includes a large batch of 155-mm artillery shells, as well as anti-drone systems, tactical vehicles, optical-electronic surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, remote control weapon turrets, airborne mortars and man-portable missile launchers and other equipment.
Most of these systems are produced by the Spanish companies TRC, Indra, Escribano, Uro, Expal and Instalaza. According to sources, the agreement is for two years with the possibility of extension for a third.
In addition, Spain will accept another 400 Ukrainian soldiers for training. In total, 4,000 Ukrainian recruits have already been trained at Spanish training grounds under the leadership of the Training Coordination Center in Toledo.
According to sources, this package of military assistance was approved on April 16 at a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Spanish government. Estimated cost 1,129,648,285.92 euros.
18 March Pedro Sánchez received for the first time at his residence in Moncloa the heads of the main Spanish defense companies, whom he asked to make efforts to meet the needs of Ukraine.
Help to Ukraine from different countries
Recall that on March 18, the European Council approved a special fund for Ukraine in the amount of 5 billion euros. Until now, weapons for Ukraine have been financed from the European Peace Fund, the limit of which is 17 billion euros for the period 2021-27.
According to the German Kiel Institute, which monitors military assistance to Ukraine from different countries, since January 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with weapons worth 42.24 billion euros, Germany — at 18.61 billion, UK — by 9.22 billion, France — by 5.65 billion, Italy — by 1 billion, and Spain — by 330 million euros.
Zelensky’s visit to Spain
Today, May 27, President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky will meet with Prime Minister of the Spanish government Pedro Sanchez in Madrid. The leaders will sign a security agreement similar to those Kyiv has already signed with the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Denmark and Canada.
The main purpose of such assistance — guarantee Ukraine stable military support until the country becomes a member of NATO and the EU.
