Ukraine’s Zelenskyy in Madrid for talks with Spanish leadership

By Alyssa McMurtry

OVIEDO, Spain (AA)- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Madrid on Monday morning ahead of key meetings with Spanish leadership.

Zelenskyy was received by Spain’s King Felipe VI at the airport, a rare gesture for non-royal person visiting Spain.

From the airport, Zelenskyy headed directly to the Moncloa Palace, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s official workplace, and met with him.

According to Spanish daily El Pais, the leaders are slated to sign an unprecedented bilateral security deal, which includes Spain sending more than €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) in arms to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy was set to travel to Spain earlier this month but had to cancel the trip after Russia’s Kharkiv offensive forced him to clear his foreign agenda.

After Sanchez and Zelenskyy present the details of the bilateral security deal, both leaders will attend an official lunch hosted by the Spanish king.

After his trip to Spain, the Ukrainian leader is due to visit Portugal on Tuesday.