Spain preparing for Zelenskyy's visit next week
Photo: Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will make an official visit to Spain on Tuesday, 18 November, where he is expected to take part in an event at the Congress of Deputies, according to the Spanish outlet Articulo14.
What we know about president's trip to Spain
The Spanish Congress has officially added Zelenskyy’s visit to its agenda for next week. He will take part in an event in the Hall of Lost Steps of the Cortes Palace at 9:30 AM local time, where he will be received by senior officials. In Madrid, he will be welcomed by the speaker of the lower house, Francina Armengol, and the president of the Senate, Pedro Rollán.
This will be the president’s second official visit to Madrid. The Spanish government has already announced that Zelenskyy will soon visit the country and will also be received by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. However, the Moncloa Palace (Sánchez’s residence) has not confirmed the date of that meeting, citing "security considerations," which is standard practice for the Ukrainian president’s international trips amid Russia’s aggression.
Zelenskyy had planned to visit Spain in April this year, but cancelled the trip to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican.
Zelenskyy's previous visit to Madrid
As reported, 18 November will mark the president’s second visit to Spain during his term. During his first visit to Madrid on 27 May 2024, he signed a bilateral security and defense agreement with Sánchez at the Moncloa Palace. The document covers humanitarian assistance, Ukraine’s reconstruction, and a "commitment to a just and lasting peace based on international law." The King and Queen of Spain hosted a lunch for the two leaders at the Royal Palace.
The outlet notes that after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Zelenskyy also addressed an extraordinary session of the Spanish Congress by video in April 2022. But it was not until May 2024 that he personally visited the Congress building on San Jerónimo Street during a state visit.
Last month, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez pledged to join the PURL program, which provides for the purchase of US weapons for Ukraine with funding from European countries.
Sánchez also responded to criticism from US President Donald Trump that Madrid spends too little on defense. He noted that although NATO countries agreed in June to dedicate 5% of GDP to defense, Spain has coordinated with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to fulfill its commitments at the level of 2.1% of GDP.
