Sánchez will visit kyiv this Saturday and will meet with Zelenski, on the first day of the Spanish presidency of the EU

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, will be this Saturday, July 1 --the first day of the Spanish presidency of the European Union-- in Kiev (Ukraine) where he will meet with President Volodimir Zelenski and will deliver a speech before parliament.

Zelensky himself confirmed it this Thursday before the leaders of the European Union, in a videoconference message at the summit being held in Brussels. Sánchez will travel this Friday to Ukraine from Brussels by train via Poland. Both leaders will meet on Saturday and that same day Sánchez will deliver a speech in the kyiv parliament

According to sources from Moncloa, Sánchez took the initiative for the Spanish Presidency to begin with a visit to the Ukrainian capital and in this way symbolize the "seamless" support of Spain and the EU for this country "in all fields: military , humanitarian and economic". They also stress that this is the third trip of the Chief Executive to Ukraine since the war began.

In his speech, Zelenski confirmed Sánchez's trip and stressed that he has great hopes for the next Spanish Presidency. In addition, the aforementioned government sources have indicated that Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and its consequences will be a priority during the Spanish semester.

Likewise, they have indicated that they will reinforce the commitment to the stabilization, recovery and reconstruction of the attacked country. Finally, they have stressed that Spain will be by the side of the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes.

In this sense, from Moncloa they emphasize that it is "very symbolic" that Sánchez has decided to start the rotating Presidency in kyiv. They have also indicated that the following day there will be a dinner for the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in Madrid, and on Monday there will be a visit by the College of EU Commissioners, led by the President of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, to the capital of Spain.

In the Government, they therefore consider that it is an austere start to the Presidency in terms of play, but with three milestones that mark the start of Spain's mandate.

In his speech, Zelenski pointed out that this is a "historic moment" to open negotiations to enter the EU, since the next steps on the European path in Kiev are expected to be discussed during the Spanish semester and at the summit December when leaders make a decision.