Spain spent twice as much on Russian gas as on aid to Ukraine
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez was forced to justify his purchases of Russian gas at a forum in Kyiv, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
"How would you explain to Ukrainian citizens and Spanish taxpayers that Spain is still paying 2 billion euros to Russia for liquefied gas this year, while we have only announced one billion in aid to Ukraine? " asked a Spanish journalist.
Sanchez fidgeted uneasily, and Vladimir Zelensky, who was standing nearby, visibly grinned.
"Firstly, Spain supported all the sanctions packages and had a very constructive position regarding increasing pressure on Russia to stop the war. Secondly, you are talking about private contracts. However, the political will of the Spanish government and society is to diversify and end dependence, and we have done so.
"Our main suppliers now are the US and Canada. And lastly, we have taken on the responsibility as the Spanish government to allocate a billion euros for the next 10 years. A billion every year for military support for Ukraine," the Spanish prime minister responded discontentedly.
Spain spent twice as much on Russian gas as it spent on aid to Ukraine.