Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
Monday, February 24, 2025 at 13:45
Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez has announced that his government will grant Ukraine a 1-billion-euro military aid package. The initiative, which coincides with a 3.5-billion euro aid package from EU and other countries’ support, consolidates solidarity towards Ukraine on the anniversary of the Russian invasion.
“24.02.2022” – This is the date the war began in Ukraine. Today, it illuminates the façade of one of the EU’s institutions. Several locations will host key events to mark the anniversary amid concerns and isolated discussions between Washington, Moscow. Foreign ministers in Brussels are debating support for Kyiv, and new sanctions, against Russia. Meanwhile, the UN votes on a UN resolution at its US base. Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, is joined by other European officials, including the head of the Spanish government – Pedro Sánchez – in Kyiv, where she announced that the EU will grant Ukraine 3.5 billion euros in March.
Von der Leyen, together with António Costa, president of the European Council, and Roberta Metsola, head of the European Parliament, has called for “maintaining solidarity” with Ukraine. Three years after the Russian invaders, European leaders have appealed for “continued assistance for Kyiv in order for a comprehensive and just lasting peace”, which puts the needs of Ukraine first.
The EU approved the 16th package of Russian sanctions, which target aluminium imports as well as the 69 new vessels in Putin’s “shadow fleet”. Kaja Kallas is the head of European Diplomacy. She stated that Ukraine needs to be supported more than ever and stressed that Kyiv and the EU “cannot remain outside the peace negotiations”. “No agreement will work without us.” Before any deal can be signed, Europe and Ukraine need to agree,” she said.
The 27 foreign ministers have united in their support of Kyiv. Belgian foreign minister Maxime Prévot stated that it is “completely unacceptable to put Russia and Ukraine on the same level. There is a aggressor and victim”. Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares said that peace “cannot be a reward for the aggressor” and must be “lasting”, involving “the democratically elected government in Ukraine as well as the Europeans”. Simon Harris, his Irish counterpart, said that Europe should speak “with a single voice” about the sovereignty and territorial unity of Ukraine. He responded to Donald Trump’s peace plan by saying, “No peace without Ukraine.”
