Zelenskyy in Madrid for talks on expanded aid, cooperation

OVIEDO, Spain

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Madrid on Tuesday in a bid to rally more support for his country amid the war with Russia.

“Today, I am holding meetings in Spain that we have been preparing for quite some time. We expect that another strong country will increase its support – helping us protect lives and bring the end of the war closer,” Zelenskyy posted on American social media company X.

By midday, Zelenskyy had visited Spain’s parliament and met with Defense Minister Margarita Robles as well as senior executives from defense companies.

He is later scheduled to meet King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

“I will speak with Prime Minister Sanchez about how to strengthen our defense and our industries – both Ukraine’s and Spain’s,” Zelenskyy said on social media. “The more bilateral ties we build with countries of the European Union, the more integrated we become with Europe.”

This marks Zelenskyy’s third visit to Spain, a country that has consistently backed Ukraine since the start of the war.

Speaking to Spanish public broadcaster RNE, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares reaffirmed support “for as long as this war of aggression lasts.”

He said Spain contributed around €1 billion ($1.16 billion) last year for Ukraine to purchase weapons and expects similar support in 2025, along with the donation of generators supplied by the US.

Spain has also taken in around 250,000 Ukrainian refugees, including approximately 40,000 school-age children, he added.

Zelenskyy’s stop in Madrid follows recent trips to Athens, where he signed a gas-import agreement, and Paris, where he secured a deal to acquire 100 French-made Rafale fighter jets.

​​​​​​​He is scheduled to visit Türkiye on Wednesday “to intensify negotiations” aimed at ending the war and advancing prisoner-exchange efforts.