Zelensky cancels visits to Spain, Portugal due to situation in Ukraine
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was supposed to visit Spain on May 17 to sign a security agreement between both countries.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. (AP)
Due to the difficult situation in Ukraine, the country's president Volodymyr Zelensky has canceled his visit to Spain on May 17, Spanish news agency EFE reported on Wednesday citing diplomatic sources.
Zelensky was supposed to visit Spain on May 17 to sign a security agreement between both countries with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The security agreement would obligate Madrid to give long-term military assistance to Kiev, cooperate in the exercises of their armed forces, develop the Ukrainian defense industry, and exchange information in the field of intelligence and cybersecurity, El Pais newspaper said earlier this month.
The Ukrainian President has also canceled his official trip to Portugal, which was scheduled for the end of the week, according to Portuguese media which also said that he had already canceled his visit twice before.
The SIC Noticias broadcaster said that Zelensky was going to Portugal to sign a security agreement with the country.
Zelensky signed French and German security pacts in February
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a security pact with his French counterpart Macron at the Elysee Palace on February 16.
Hours earlier, he had completed a similar deal with Germany which was praised by Chancellor Olaf Scholz who described it as a "historic step" in support of Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia.
The situation in Ukraine
Ukraine's shaken battlefield position is expected to worsen soon, Kiev's military intelligence chief warned in an interview with The New York Times on May 13, further labeling the situation as "on the edge" as Russia proceeds with its territorial gains.
The evident intention of the Russian maneuver was to deplete Ukrainian reserves, the head of Ukraine's military intelligence agency (GUR), Kyrylo Budanov, told The New York Times, adding that this could possibly pave the way for Russia to capture Chasov Yar, a strategically valuable Donbass city around 200 kilometers southeast of Kharkov.
Speaking with NYT, he stressed that "The situation is on the edge," adding, "Every hour this situation moves toward critical."
Even though Budanov thinks that Kiev will be able to stabilize the situation, he predicts that Russia will carry out a similar incursion within days in the Sumy Region, 150 kilometers northwest of Kharkov.
As the Ukrainian military leadership has admitted Russia's "tactical successes" in the area and deployed reserves in response, Budanov told NYT that due to the latter, Ukraine has partially hindered Russian plans.
However, NYT said that Kiev might loosen up its defense in other places as a result of the deployment.
