Madrid Talks Yield Agreement on Joint Missile and Air Defense Production with Zelenskyy.

Ukrainian President Meets with Spanish Firm Sener

According to UATV: On March 18, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting in Madrid with executives from Sener Aerospace & Defence, a Spanish engineering and technology group. The discussions centered on potential collaboration for manufacturing missile components and air defense systems. A particular emphasis was placed on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, which the president described as the top priority for safeguarding civilian lives. This meeting marks another step in Ukraine’s push to secure industrial partnerships amid ongoing war.

Following the talks, Ukrainian manufacturers signed four cooperation agreements—three of which were with Sener. The signatories included the following companies:

• Fire Point
• State Kyiv Design Bureau 'Luch'
• Scientific and Production Enterprise 'Radionix'

Additionally, the Spanish company Escribano entered into an agreement with Ukrainian drone manufacturer Skyeton to jointly develop laser-guided strike systems.

Defense Collaboration Plans

Sener President Andrés Sendagorta and CEO Jorge Sendagorta confirmed their commitment to partnering on defense technology. Zelenskyy stressed the need to implement all agreements between Ukrainian and Spanish manufacturers as quickly as possible:

“We expect all arrangements between Ukrainian and Spanish producers to be carried out in the shortest time frame. Thank you for your support and readiness to work together.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy

A key aspect of the collaboration involves producing components for IRIS-T missile systems, which are assembled in Germany for Ukraine. Zelenskyy noted: “We discussed opportunities for production and strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. Bolstering air defense and protecting lives is our main priority. We are also interested in joint projects for long-range drone manufacturing.”

This meeting represents a significant step in advancing military cooperation between Ukraine and Spain amid current security challenges. The agreements signed with Spanish companies for missile parts and air defense systems could prove pivotal in enhancing the country’s security and territorial defense. They also highlight European nations’ growing interest in developing Ukraine’s defense infrastructure and pursuing strategically important joint initiatives for the region.