Zelensky flies into Madrid unannounced to seek air defence help
PauseandPonderTV · Thu, 5 Nov 2026The Ukrainian leader is meeting Spain's Sánchez and King Felipe, and courting Latin American leaders at the Ibero-American summit.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made a surprise trip to Madrid, where leaders from Spain, Portugal and Latin America are gathered for the Ibero-American summit.
His visit was kept secret until his plane touched down on Wednesday. Zelensky said his main goals were to strengthen Ukraine's air defences, protect civilians and expand defence cooperation and weapons production with partners.
He is due to hold talks with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and King Felipe VI, and to join a wider meeting with leaders attending the summit, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres and European Council President António Costa.
Kyiv sees the summit as a chance to win friends in Latin America, where opinion on the war with Russia is divided. Zelensky said new support was being prepared but gave no details.
Source: this report is based on reporting by Euronews.
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