Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has taken a clear stance on the ongoing discussions regarding Ukraine’s future. During an emergency EU summit in Paris, held Monday, February 17, Sánchez made it clear that sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine is premature, stating, ‘We are still at war.’

EU Leaders Meet to Discuss Ukraine’s Future

The meeting, called by French President Emmanuel Macron, brought together key European leaders, including those from Germany, Italy, the UK, Poland, and the European Commission. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte was also present. Sánchez highlighted Spain’s unwavering commitment to Ukraine, NATO, and the EU, stating that supporting Ukraine is essential for European security.

Ukraine Must Be Involved in Peace Talks

Sánchez insisted that discussions about Ukraine’s future must include Ukrainian leadership. He echoed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski’s stance that any decisions made without Ukraine’s input will not be accepted. While some leaders, including Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, considered deploying peacekeeping forces, Sánchez and others, such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, opposed the idea at this stage.

Las conversaciones para la paz en Ucrania representan una oportunidad. Pero no deben llevarnos a un cierre en falso. El objetivo debe ser alcanzar una paz justa y duradera.

Debe contar con la implicación activa de Ucrania y de Europa y debe reforzar el orden multilateral y el… pic.twitter.com/49PfECXN77

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 17, 2025

Spain’s Role in Supporting Ukraine

Speaking after the summit, Sánchez stressed that the meeting was not about making immediate decisions but rather about sharing ideas on achieving peace and ensuring Europe’s security. He reaffirmed that Spain has provided economic, military, and humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the war began.

Sánchez also stated that a lasting peace must be just and agreed upon by all parties involved, particularly Ukraine and the EU. He emphasized that Europe must not repeat past mistakes and must stand firm in its commitment to democracy and sovereignty.

Strengthening European Defense

On broader European defense, Sánchez reiterated Spain‘s commitment to increasing military spending to 2% of GDP. He suggested that the EU should consider sharing debt to boost defense funding, calling it a ‘public good.’ Sánchez stressed that Europe must stay united, saying, ‘More Europe, more European Union.’

Main image: X/@vonderleyen