Pedro Sánchez, on peace in Ukraine: "We must seize this opportunity to strengthen both the European project and the multilateral order"

Elysee Palace, Paris (France)

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, took part in the informal meeting on the situation in Ukraine and security challenges in Europe, organised by France.

Pedro Sánchez met with the leaders of half a dozen European countries, and with the highest representatives of the Council of Europe, the European Commission and NATO, to discuss peace in Ukraine and the future of security on the continent.

The president stressed that from the very first moment, Spain came to the aid of Ukraine both to defend its freedom and independence and to defend European security. "To talk about independence, and therefore peace in Ukraine, is to talk about European security. Peace in Ukraine and European security are two sides of the same coin," he stressed.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during his appearance after the meeting of European leaders | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

In this regard, Pedro Sánchez defended Spain as a committed ally, in deeds as well as words, highlighting the value of the Bilateral Security Agreement with Ukraine reached last year, worth €1 billion. He also stressed that our country is one of the main contributors to the European Peace Facility, and mentioned the aid provided in terms of humanitarian and refugee reception.

Pedro Sánchez stressed that Ukraine still needs the support of the international community, and particularly of Europe. He affirmed that Spain will continue to support Ukraine for as long as the war lasts.

Referring to the start of possible negotiations on a peace agreement for Ukraine, the president welcomed the talks, but warned that they could not end in stalemate, and that the mistakes of the past could not be repeated.

"It must be a lasting and just peace". First, he stressed the need for the active involvement of Ukraine, which is the country under attack, and of the European Union, the political project that feels threatened. The president also argued that peace must reinforce multilateral order and international law, and consolidate respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of nations. Peace, he said, must bring a stronger EU.

"At this point, we must always appeal to the history of Europe and be aware that Europe has grown and strengthened through crises", he stressed. In this regard, he reviewed the successive challenges that Europe and the world have faced since 2020, highlighting how Europe has responded with solidarity in each case. He referred to the pandemic and to the NextGenerationEU Funds, and to the inflationary crisis caused by Putin's war, the Iberian solution and the reform of the electricity market, and the solidarity shown in support of Ukraine. "We are not pro-European out of interest; we are pro-European out of conviction".

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, together with the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Keir Starmer | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo"Europe is a strong political project", Pedro Sánchez stressed, pointing out that the continent is the world's leading trading bloc and, overall, the world's leading economy. He went on to say that Europe has the capacities and strengths to continue to expand this great project, which is the EU.

He concluded by stating that this is a defining moment for the EU, a key turning point for the multilateral order. In this context, he stressed the importance of maintaining consistency in upholding the principles and values that underpin the rules-based international order.

Non official translation