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Spain's pact with Kyiv, and Kharkiv's toll
Summary
A look back at a bilateral security agreement and a pledge of military aid, signed two days after deadly strikes on Kharkiv.
What did Spain offer Ukraine on 27 May 2024, and what was the backdrop? Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez signed a bilateral security pact with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged €1 billion (US$1.1 billion) of military aid.
The signing came two days after Russian strikes on a hardware store and a residential area in Kharkiv. On 25 May 2024, at least fourteen people were killed and 58 others injured.
Why the timing matters
The two events sat side by side in the news cycle. One was a diplomatic and financial commitment made in a meeting between leaders. The other was the human cost of attacks on a civilian shopping site and on homes in Ukraine's second city.
For international readers, the pairing shows the context in which the Spanish pledge was made: military support was being promised while civilians were being killed and wounded in a city under attack. The pact and the €1 billion in aid were presented as part of continuing military aid to Ukraine during the war.
