Pedro Sánchez highlights the united, coordinated and firm response of NATO and the EU to Russia's brutal and unjustified aggression against Ukraine

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

Along with other Alliance members, the meeting was also attended by European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson, and Ukrainian President (via pre-recorded video message) Volodymir Zelenski, all of whom were invited by NATO.

The purpose of the meeting was set out in a Joint Communiqué adopted unanimously by the leaders. In the text, in addition to 'roundly' condemning the invasion of Ukraine ordered by the Russian government and expressing 'solidarity and support' for the Ukrainian people, it stresses that Vladimir Putin's 'rejection of the path of diplomacy and dialogue' is a flagrant 'violation of international legality and the values of peace and stability on which the Atlantic Alliance is founded', as well as 'a terrible strategic mistake for which Russia will pay a heavy economic and political price in the coming years'.

For President Pedro Sánchez, this "brutal and unjustified aggression" is "the greatest threat since World War II to the stability and security not only of Ukraine itself, but also of Europe and the rest of the world".

Solidarity and unity

Spain is fully committed to a "strong response" from NATO and considers coordination between the Alliance and the EU "of utmost importance". "Unity is our best tool of deterrence," reiterated Pedro Sánchez, stressing that our country is prepared to assume its collective commitments together with its allies.

Spain also supports the EU's decision to contribute to Ukraine's economic stability with an extraordinary aid package. "Today we choose to be on the side of peace and international law and not on the side of force and global chaos," stressed President Sánchez, who expressed the Government of Spain's "pain" at the loss of human lives that Ukraine is suffering. "Our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the Ukrainian people and their Armed Forces".

The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, also joined in this grief, and was responsible for making her final assessment at the end of the Atlantic Council in an institutional declaration.

Spain is providing medical and humanitarian aid to the Ukrainian people, and "will always be in the first place defending peace and the values of coexistence".

Robles reiterated that NATO will not send troops to Ukraine, but warned that "any aggression against one of the Alliance countries will immediately lead to the application of Article 5, with a consequent response".

"Let Vladimir Putin know that neither NATO nor the EU will continue to condone violations of international law", said the Spanish Minister for Defence, highlighting the unity expressed between the Atlantic Alliance and the EU in responding to Russia with sanctions, "especially those of the European Union, which have been fully appreciated by NATO".

Non official translation