The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, urged during Wednesday’s NATO Foreign Ministers’ meeting, held on 3 December, that support for Ukraine in defending itself against Russian aggression must continue, and that pressure on Russia should be increased to bring the conflict to an end.
Albares, who took part in the meeting alongside his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, and the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, underlined that the discussions were taking place at a decisive moment to advance towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, to restore peace and security to our continent.
The minister stressed that “Spain and Europe, and, of course Ukraine, want peace, and we will continue to support all efforts to achieve it.” A peace that must be “credible, just and lasting”, and cannot amount to a reward for the aggressor or a mere pause between wars.
He also highlighted the role of the United States as Europe’s historic natural ally, whose contribution is essential to achieving peace in Ukraine. A peace that “is tied to the security of Europe and the entire Euro-Atlantic area, and that is why all allies must be involved,” the minister affirmed.
Albares recalled that NATO is an Alliance of democracies and warned that Russia poses a threat both to them and to Ukrainian democracy. He specifically referred to Russian disinformation, hybrid actions and its drive to destabilise the wider European environment, including in our Southern Neighbourhood, as threats against which protection is needed.
Spain’s Role in NATO
The minister highlighted Spain’s contributions to NATO’s deterrence and defence, including the exemplary deployment of our Armed Forces on the Alliance’s Eastern Flank and in the mission in Iraq. He also added that Spain advocates a comprehensive vision of security, that necessarily involves crisis prevention and response, strengthened deterrence and defence, economic security, and action in the energy, climate and health spheres, as well as against terrorism and hybrid threats, including disinformation.
Albares took the opportunity to meet with his counterparts from Germany, Johann Wadephul; Poland, Radosław Sikorski; Canada, Anita Anand; Lithuania, Kęstutis Budrys; and Norway, Espen Barth, to whom he reiterated Spain’s commitment to Ukraine and Euro-Atlantic security, along with key aspects of bilateral relations. He also held discussions on Euro-Atlantic security with the head of the US delegation, Christopher Landau.
To see the images of the event, click here
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