Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday in Kyiv, on the first day of Spain’s presidency of the EU Council, confirmed the EU’s support for Ukraine, whose president Volodymyr Zelenskyi, however, complained about the slowness of military aid promised by the West.

Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Pedro SanchezPhoto: Handout / AFP / Profimedia

“From the point of view of the European Union regarding the accession of Ukraine, my presence on the first day of this six-month presidency (…) proves a clear and unequivocal political commitment on the part of the institutions of the community,” said Pedro Sánchez. at a joint press conference with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, France-Presse and Agerpres agencies report.

This visit precedes an important NATO summit scheduled for July 11-12 in Vilnius to define a roadmap for future relations between Ukraine and the Alliance.

“Spain once again declares its support for Ukraine’s candidacy in the EU, which will be one of the priorities of its presidency,” said the joint statement of Sanchez and Zelensky.

“Spain supports the strengthening of the partnership between NATO and Ukraine, including through the creation of the Ukraine-NATO Council,” the statement reads.

Ukraine gained EU candidate status a year ago and hopes to start the first formal talks in 2023 on the steps it will have to take to boost its chances of membership.

President Zelensky, however, repeated his criticism of “some” Western partners in connection with the training of Ukrainian aviators to pilot fighter jets.

“Do they have an idea of ​​the date when Ukraine will be able to get the F-16?” Zelensky said in the presence of Sanchez. “There is no training mission schedule. I think some partners are moving hard,” he added.

These criticisms coincide with Kyiv’s claim of limited gains in the counteroffensive, which it is trying to recapture some of the territories occupied by Russia. On Saturday, Ukraine said it was fighting “fiercely” in this counteroffensive, which began about a month ago, AFP noted.

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