The Cibelis Fountain in Madrid. File photoMOSCOW, June 5The supply of heavy weapons to Ukraine was one of the conditions that the United States set for Spain to host a NATO summit in the country in June, said Ekaterina Cherkasova, senior researcher at the IMEMO RAS. Earlier, El Pais newspaper citing sources, she said that Spain was preparing to supply heavy weapons to Ukraine, including anti-aircraft missiles and tanks. In particular, the government is ready to transfer German Leopard A4 tanks and Shorad Aspide short-range anti-aircraft missile batteries.Spain is ready to send anti-aircraft missiles and tanks to Kyiv, the media reported, «This was one of the preconditions for the NATO summit to be held in Madrid. The United States put pressure on Spain that if it did not supply Kyiv with heavy weapons, then this summit would be held in another place. It also took place. It is prestigious for Spain to hold a summit, this is due to the overall image of the country. In addition, Spain will be the EU presidency from July 1. They want to look no worse than others, roughly speaking. But all this has a very limited character,» she told RIA Novosti. Compared to other countries, Spain takes a very limited part in the supply of arms to Ukraine, Cherkasova pointed out. «Spain has a lot of problems in northern Africa, primarily in relations with Morocco. opinions are directed precisely in this direction. Of course, Spain follows the common line of the EU and the United States regarding Ukraine. This is a tribute to the alliance, common solidarity with the Western community, but this is neither a security issue for Spain nor a foreign policy priority,» she stressed. In April, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said during a press conference in Kyiv that he had sent 200 tons of ammunition, military equipment, and vehicles to Ukraine. Western countries, even before the start of the Russian special operation, began to supply Ukraine with a large number of weapons, in including anti-tank missiles. Recently, heavy equipment has also been supplied, in particular tanks, howitzers, MLRS. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. The Foreign Ministry of the Russian Federation stated that the NATO countries were «playing with fire» by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov said that pumping Kyiv with weapons does not change all the parameters of the Russian special operation, its goals will be achieved.
