The Spanish Foreign Minister arrives in kyiv in the midst of the Spanish Presidency to reinforce the European message: Spain’s support for Ukraine does not waver. He also does not voice it when he talks about Vladimir Putin’s exclusive responsibility in that enormous drama that has lasted for a year and a half. Albares attends EL MUNDO in the cafeteria of the Intercontinental hotel in kyiv before entering a historic summit.
Question.- Russia is preparing for a long war. What can the EU do to counteract this effort?
Answer.- There are two things we can do. As the months go by we must remember that there is only one aggressor here. Only Vladimir Putin wanted this war and therefore it is in his hands to stop it. Everything the rest of us do is try to help restore peace to Ukraine but within what the United Nations charter establishes. That is, a just peace that respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Today, all the EU Foreign Ministers are here to convey our solidarity to Ukraine and to ask them how we can be more effective in our help to Ukraine in the defense of its civilians. By defending Ukraine we defend the most essential values ??of the European Union. We must not forget that the EU is a peace building that was created precisely to avoid what we are seeing today in Ukraine, that is, war as a way to resolve conflicts as a State. If Russia succeeds in its war of aggression we will all feel more insecure the next day, because no one will be free from its most powerful neighbor invading its sovereignty.
Q.- What are the security commitments that the EU can offer to Ukraine?
A.- Everything we have been doing until now. Diplomatic support to talk to all our partners and friends in the world to explain that this is a war in Europe, but it is not a European war, because it attacks the principles of the United Nations charter. We also have a humanitarian commitment to Ukraine, both with the refugees before and now with the victims. For example, Spain has brought ambulances here. And when the time comes, we have a commitment to rebuilding. Of course, added to our military aid with training of Ukrainian soldiers in Spain and the sending of equipment so that Ukraine can defend its sovereignty and its defenseless civilians. We also want the war crimes that have been committed not to go unpunished. I met with the Attorney General of the International Criminal Court in New York to tell him that the crime against the aid worker Emma Igual [killed in a Russian attack] could not go unpunished.
Q.-Is Spain prepared to continue delivering weapons to Ukraine?
A.- Spain always moves under two parameters: attending to the needs of Ukraine and doing everything in concert with our European partners. We will continue doing it as long as necessary.
Q.-Is the agreement for 20 billion euros of military support until 2027 close to being reached?
A.- On the part of Spain we are going to do everything possible to achieve this. I spoke to all the foreign ministers on the train from the Polish border to kyiv and we all thought the same.
Q.-Is there no fear that the conflict will drag on and the EU will be left alone in that support?
A.- All the conversations I have with my friend Tony [Antony] Blinken show me that the Biden Administration remains firm in its support for Ukraine. When we see any vote in the United Nations we see that Russia has been completely isolated and has lost the diplomatic battle. The European Union has no interest in maintaining a long war, nor does President Zelensky. All we want is for peace to return today, but for it to be a just peace, within what the United Nations charter establishes.
Q.-Does the EU have a theory of victory? What can we consider a just peace?
A.- A peace that respects Ukrainian sovereignty and its integrity. The crimes that have been committed here must not go unpunished.
Q.- Does this meeting represent support for Ukraine’s path to accession to the EU?
A.- Without a doubt, that is going to be a very important component. And it is no coincidence that this meeting is under the Spanish Presidency and in the month of October, which is when the Commission has to issue its report on enlargement. That gesture is also in that meeting.
Q.- Do you think that Ukraine’s accession will be a topic of debate at the Granada summit?
A.- Yes, the expansion is going to be a very important issue. In Granada, what we are going to try is to achieve a great strategic vision of what we want for the European Union, and it is impossible to have it today without talking about Ukraine, which is a very specific country, because it is at war.
Q.- What is the message that you want to convey in this summit to Moscow?
A.- What we do in Ukraine does not have any gesture of hostility towards Russia, but it does have a firm message: we want a peace that respects the sovereignty of Ukraine.
Q.- Has there been diplomatic progress in the understanding of the conflict by some Latin American countries that remained equidistant?
A.- Totally. That has been one of our efforts and you only have to look at the declaration of the EU and CELAC summit in which there is that paragraph that makes it clear that it is a war “against Ukraine.” It is a paragraph that was difficult or impossible to move forward in the United Nations or the G-20. That is a great achievement for Spain and the Spanish presidency of the EU.
Q.- You have come to Ukraine several times. Have you noticed substantial changes since the first time you came?
A.- Of course I have seen the material impact of the war, but what surprises me most is what has not changed, which is the determination of the Ukrainian people to maintain their sovereignty and fight for the defense of those European values. That’s what impresses me the most every time I come. We just made a wreath at the wall of the fallen. The first time I came it was covered in photographs in half its space. Today, unfortunately, it is full. But the determination remains the same.
