“Ukraine is going to win the war.” That’s the message Pedro Sánchez left in the country’s parliament, where he spoke during a visit to mark the start of Spain’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins this Saturday. “There are two battles: one on the battlefield and one in the mind, because this is a battle of ideas and the Ukrainian people have already won,” said the head of the executive power, who was sure that soon he would see “Ukraine resurrected from the ashes.”
“They are fighting for the peace and well-being of their children, and all Ukrainian soldiers know this. The Russian military is fighting in fear, they will be punished if they don’t,” said Sanchez, referring to the mutiny that Wagner’s mercenaries staged last week. This situation opened a ray of hope for the Ukrainian army, although the weakness of Vladimir Putin is also worrying in Europe, especially in the eastern countries. “If one side shows weakness, it’s because there’s someone showing the opposite: determination. And that’s what I see here: determination, strength and courage,” he added.
“Ukrainian people have chosen the European path. You are Europeans,” Sanchez told the Ukrainian parliamentarians. Ukraine received candidate status in record time and is now in the process of reforms to officially start negotiations. Volodymyr Zelensky, who will later take over from Sánchez, is urging the EU to start this phase by the end of the year. For now, the European Commission will make an assessment in October, and from there, The 27 must decide whether to start negotiations.
“We will support Ukraine regardless of the price”
The president congratulated the Ukrainians on the progress made so far – the preliminary assessment is bleak, however, as Brussels has granted permission to only two of the seven demands he has made – and urged them to continue with reforms that he has assured are good in themselves to improve the economy or attract investment. “They will guarantee you access to the European Union, which is more than the largest single market in the world, it is a community of values,” argued Sánchez: “It is worth the effort.”
He also made a decision on one of the debates that is on the table, and that is how to ensure Ukraine’s security in the medium and long term, given that it is not planned to join NATO in the near future, and that will be it. It will be an umbrella defense against Russia, because an attack on an ally is aggression against the alliance as a whole.
“The aggression against Ukraine showed us that it is necessary to protect them effectively. Not only in words, but in deeds. Therefore, we will have to review the security framework to guarantee that Ukraine can live without aggression and intimidation,” explained Sanchez, who advocated “promoting Ukraine’s political participation through the creation of a NATO-Ukraine Council in which you. He will no longer be a guest, but a member, a full member. We are also in favor of strengthening practical cooperation to continue adapting the defense sector to NATO standards,” he added.
Sánchez announced a new aid package of 55 million euros for the reconstruction of the country: “We are here and we will be with you as long as it is needed. We will support Ukraine, regardless of the price it has to pay for it.”
Sanchez’s words came on the first day of Spain’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, which will have an uncertain end due to the electoral battle. PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijoo, who created a task force in case he takes over after the election, expressed his “loyalty and commitment” to Semester on Twitter.
Second vice-president and Sumar’s candidate, Yolanda Díaz, also pledged to work for “social support and a green pact” during her presidency, and at a time when the right is regaining power in Europe, she pointed to the need for Spain. to continue the progressive path.
Source: El Diario
