The President of the Government of Catalonia, Pere Aragonès, expressed Catalonia’s commitment to Ukraine this Wednesday in the face of the Russian invasion and the war in the country. “In the face of Russian imperialism, Catalonia offers its full support to Ukraine and its full support to the international community to continue defending the values that unite us”, said the President at an event at the Palau de la Generalitat on the occasion of the second anniversary of the start of this conflict.

The event was attended by the Consul General of Ukraine, Artem Vorobyov, and representatives of the Ukrainian community in Catalonia. A banner was displayed on the balcony of the Palau de la Generalitat in support of Ukraine with the slogan “Catalonia with Ukraine. For peace, freedom, and human rights”.

Aragonès stated that “today, defending Ukraine means defending Europe” and that, therefore, the Catalan Government stands alongside Ukraine together with the rest of European governments and institutions to defend “the values of peace, solidarity, democracy, and freedom”.

He also recalled that the Catalan Government has been fully committed since the first day of the war to support the Ukrainian people by offering humanitarian aid and activating various hosting mechanisms to provide refuge for nearly 40,000 Ukrainians fleeing the war, of whom 25,000 live in Catalonia.

The President pointed out that Russian aggression against Ukraine is an attack on European values and on the principles of peace, human rights, democracy and the freedom of nations. He also criticised the fact that “the regime in Moscow is showing its cruellest side more and more clearly with each passing day”, as seen in the threats against the Estonian prime minister and the assassination of Aleksei Navalny.

Aragonès also sent a message of hope to Ukraine and assured that when the war ends, Catalonia will continue to stand by Ukraine to contribute to its reconstruction. “We are convinced that we will win and that the terror perpetrated by Putin will not go unpunished. That the violation of human rights that he is carrying out, sooner or later, will be judged”.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Foreign Action and European Union, Meritxell Serret, highlighted the actions of the Executive to support the Ukrainian population in Catalonia and the collaboration with development cooperation organisations working on the ground. “We are a welcoming country; we have activated all the mechanisms to provide dignified care for people fleeing violence”, she said.

The Minister also made it clear that Catalonia continues to support the negotiations for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union. “As an active member of the European Union, we share the European stance on the conflict and give our full support to the accession negotiations.In a few months’ time there will also be elections in Europe, elections that could be decisive and that will mark a turning point”, she stated.

Overview of the Catalan Government’s actions

In February of last year, the Catalan Government joined the European Alliance of Regions and Cities for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, promoted by the Committee of the Regions, to coordinate a Europe-wide response to the conflict.

In parallel, and in coordination with Ukrainian government agencies and European institutions, the Catalan private sector has also been involved in the reconstruction of the country. Specifically, the Executive is promoting the participation of Catalan companies and entities in ReBuild Ukraine, a congress to facilitate alliances with Ukrainian partners and to gain first-hand knowledge of the needs of Ukrainian cities and regions affected by the conflict.