The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has increased his contacts with Ukraine in recent weeks, both bilaterally and multilaterally, to show Spain's unwavering support at a key moment when peace talks are beginning. Ukraine is also, for the third consecutive year since the beginning of the Russian invasion, a main beneficiary of humanitarian assistance from Spanish Cooperation, having received 110 million euros, including decentralised cooperation.
This month alone, the Minister has participated twice, most recently this morning, in the Coalition of the Willing for Ukraine's security, which Spain has been a member of from the outset and which brings together the European and allied countries most committed to Ukraine's defence and security.
Today's meeting emphasised the unity of all participants, the support for President Zelensky in defending Ukraine's sovereignty and integrity, the need for a ceasefire and the security guarantees that must be put on the table so that there is no repetition of aggression in the future. In addition, the minister explained, the need for Europe's will to be part of that peace was also highlighted, because what happens in Ukraine has a direct impact on Europe's security.
Numerous contacts
Furthermore, on 11 August, Albares took part in the meeting of the Extraordinary Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs, where the latest diplomatic developments and the first peace talks meetings were discussed. In the past week, the Minister has held telephone conversations with his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, and with the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, Taras Kachka.
In the first instance, he conveyed to his counterpart his support and solidarity at this crucial time and reiterated that Spain is working for a just and lasting peace with a ceasefire as an essential first step. His conversation with Kachka revolved around Ukraine's European integration process into the EU. Spain supported the opening of negotiations during its Presidency of the Council and continues to support advancing the process because it argues that Ukraine is part of the European family and shares its values.
Humanitarian assistance
For the third consecutive year and since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), has continued its intense humanitarian, financial and reconstruction work in the Slavic country. In 2025, humanitarian assistance to Ukraine continues to be a clear priority, focusing on three areas: displaced persons and refugees, infrastructure and energy from an "early reconstruction" perspective, and gender.
From 2022 to mid-2025, Spanish Cooperation, including decentralised cooperation, has allocated 110 million euros for humanitarian action in Ukraine. Much of this assistance has been channelled through the humanitarian appeals of various international United Nations agencies.
One of the projects targeting this reconstruction is the Specialised Medical and Health Training programme, already underway at the Lviv Regional Veterans' Hospital, and which has already organised its first training placements for 11 Ukrainian doctors at the Gómez Ulla Hospital. The AECID has, in fact, been supporting the Ukrainian maternal and child healthcare system for three years, with the acquisition of 30 mobile incubators for premature babies, 30 vehicles for mobile sexual and reproductive health units, and two armoured medical ambulances.
Also noteworthy is the project for the reconstruction and improvement of schools and educational centres, which seeks, among other things, to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and which has received an investment of 4 million euros, to reform 8 schools. Other examples are the creation of the Lviv cultural centre, inaugurated by Minister Albares in January, and various AECID activities for the protection and promotion of Ukrainian culture, for a total of 350,000 euros between 2023 and 2025.
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