Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Tuesday (November 18) a total aid package of $946 million to be provided to Ukraine for its defense needs and post-war reconstruction. The decision was made public following his meeting with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Madrid.
Sánchez stated during a joint press conference that the aid will focus on three core objectives: assisting the Ukrainian military in defending its territory, protecting civilian security, and promoting post-war reconstruction. He also reiterated support for utilizing frozen Russian assets in Europe for Ukraine’s reconstruction.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude on social media platform X, remarking that Spain’s decision is “very important and sets a strong example for other European countries.” He also revealed that discussions were held on the challenges posed by recent attacks on energy facilities by Russian forces.
The aid, as highlighted by Sánchez, is expected to begin implementation within a month, with approximately $116 million allocated through NATO’s Ukraine Prioritized Needs List (PURL) for the purchase of missiles from the United States.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s top priority at the moment is to acquire more American-made Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles, stating, “We are working hard to raise funds, especially for the Patriot system and its missiles.”
Moreover, Zelenskyy visited the headquarters of Indra, a defense company partially owned by the government, to inspect anti-drone and radar technology development.
Zelenskyy has embarked on a European tour in recent days to seek more military and economic support. The day before, in Paris, he signed a memorandum of understanding with France to potentially acquire up to 100 Rafale fighter jets, drones, and air defense systems to further bolster air defense capabilities.
Furthermore, on November 13, eight countries including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden jointly announced plans to contribute $500 million through NATO to purchase military equipment and ammunition from the United States to support Ukraine.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed this initiative, emphasizing that the equipment is “crucial for Ukraine’s operations on the front lines in the winter” and noting that supplies provided through the PURL program are steadily arriving in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy disclosed that he will visit Turkey on Wednesday, aiming to push for peace negotiations with Russia back on track and seeking to resume prisoner exchanges with Moscow. He emphasized that Ukraine is prepared to propose new negotiation ideas to all parties involved.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is approaching its third year in February 2026, with the conflict showing no signs of abating.