Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, while on a visit to Madrid, asked Spain on Wednesday for naval assistance, especially against mines, and more artillery ammunition, including 155 and 105 calibers, reports Spanish agency EFE, quoted by Agerpres.

Reznikov expressed these requests at a joint press conference with the Minister of Defense of Spain, Margarita Robles, at which he also thanked Spain for the military and humanitarian aid provided since the beginning of the war with Russia.

The Minister of Defense of Ukraine arrived in Madrid on Wednesday and, after being received with military honors by Robles, took part in a working meeting with the delegations of both countries before addressing the media.

The visit takes place a few days before Spain sends six Leopard tanks to Kyiv, which will “roar with a Spanish accent” through the territory of Ukraine at the end of this month, Reznikov emphasized.

The 2A4 tanks are among more than 50 units decommissioned ten years ago and stored at military facilities. Spain will donate six so far, but four more are in the pipeline.

Leopard 2A4 battle tanks that Spain will send to Ukraine (Photo: FabiáN SimóN / Zuma Press / Profimedia)

The shipment of this equipment is part of Spain’s support for Ukrainian forces in the fight against the Russian invasion.

In addition, the Ukrainian minister wants to thank Spain for the help, both military and humanitarian, provided since February 2022 after the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops, and will go to the Gomes Ulla Hospital in the capital to reward its director and the director of the hospital. General Defense Hospital in Zaragoza (North), where some of his country’s war wounded are being treated.

In total, the Spanish aviation transported 57 wounded Ukrainian soldiers to two hospitals for treatment, some of them have already been discharged.

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