Spain Pledges €437M in Military Aid to Ukraine Following Talks in Madrid

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed a €437 million ($500 million) military aid package for Ukraine during talks at the 30th Ibero-American Summit in Madrid. The aid package will help Ukraine address urgent defense needs, including damaged infrastructure such as railways, power grids, and water supply systems.

Zelensky emphasized that Russia has damaged over 500 Ukrainian locomotives this year, compared to previous years, and that the country's power grid and water supply systems are under constant attack. This aid builds upon Spain's earlier commitment of €1 billion ($1.2 billion) in military assistance in March, bringing its total support to €4 billion ($4.6 billion).

During a trilateral meeting between Ukraine, the US, and Russia in Abu Dhabi, Zelensky briefed his counterparts on Russia's ongoing attacks on critical infrastructure. The Spanish government also approved monthly bonuses for energy, utility, and railway personnel restoring infrastructure damaged in Russian strikes. Zelensky's attendance at the summit marked the first time Ukraine had been represented, providing an opportunity to engage with countries distant from the war, particularly in Latin America and Africa.