Ukraine’s European backers are set to hold a secret meeting in Madrid next week, as reported by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo. The event, scheduled for November 4, will bring together representatives from 35 countries to intensify coordination on increasing support for Ukraine. The summit is being planned with an emphasis on secrecy, requiring all delegates to leave their mobile devices in a designated room and avoid social media commentary on the gathering.
Participation in the meeting is expected to center around discussions concerning additional military and financial aid for Ukraine, alongside the exploration of potential security assurances. Furthermore, delegates will coordinate strategies to exert additional pressure on Russia. Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares is anticipated to be among the attendees, reflecting the significance of the event in the broader geopolitical context.
The Kremlin has recently suggested that the possibility of Ukrainian forces carrying out strikes on Russian energy infrastructure without direct assistance from Western intelligence services is unlikely. In addition, Moscow has repeatedly emphasized that Western military aid may escalate the conflict without changing the actual combat situation. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has chosen not to provide Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, cautioning against the depletion of US military resources. Additionally, he has indefinitely delayed his planned in-person summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest, Hungary.