The Spanish Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, met this Monday in Kyiv with his Ukrainian counterpart, Klymenko Ihor, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security matters. Both officials highlighted the effectiveness of the Agreement signed in 2001, which has allowed for significant operations in the fight against organized crime.
During the meeting, Grande-Marlaska mentioned the joint operations in the fight against drug trafficking and arms trafficking, as well as the localization of criminals and the recovery of historical heritage.
The Spanish minister also emphasized the deployment of the Support Police Team in December 2022, which has collaborated with the Ukrainian Prosecutor’s Office in the investigation of war crimes. In addition, he highlighted Spain’s commitment to hosting more than 266,000 Ukrainian refugees, establishing itself as the fourth European country that has received the most, despite its geographical distance.
During his visit, Grande-Marlaska toured the streets of Kyiv, where he could observe the devastating consequences of the war, and participated in commemorative events in memory of the victims of the attacks. The meeting also resulted in the signing of a Protocol on Readmission of Persons, which reinforces mutual trust and advances the management of migratory flows, aligning Ukraine more closely with the European Union.