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Zelensky puts off visit to Spain and Portugal
"Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed that all international events scheduled for the coming days be postponed and new dates coordinated," Sergii Nykyforov said in a post on Facebook.
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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky attends a NATO leaders summit in Vilnius on July 12, 2023. (Reuters/Yves Herman)
U
krainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has postponed all upcoming foreign visits including a trip to Spain and Portugal this week, his press secretary said on Wednesday, amid Russia's offensive in the north of the Kharkiv region.
"Volodymyr Zelensky has instructed that all international events scheduled for the coming days be postponed and new dates coordinated," Sergii Nykyforov said in a post on Facebook.
Spanish government sources said Zelensky had cancelled his visit but did not give a reason.
King Felipe of Spain had been due to hold a reception for Zelensky on May 17 and host a meal in his honour.
Zelensky had also been expected to sign a bilateral security cooperation agreement with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez following a joint declaration by NATO last year, and visit Portugal.
A spokesperson for the Portuguese government said the Ukrainian president had cancelled the visit but did not give a reason.
Alongside other European Union countries, Spain committed to support Ukraine with financial and military aid after Russia's invasion in February 2022.
Zelensky's planned visit was due to coincide with an EU pledge of long-term security support for Kyiv, according to a draft document.
Earlier on Wednesday, Ukraine said it had pulled back troops near several villages in the northeastern Kharkiv region where Russian forces have been advancing and pounding settlements in a new offensive along the border.
Details of the withdrawal emerged as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was on an unannounced visit to Kyiv where President Volodymyr Zelensky urged him to speed up US supplies of weapons.
Moscow launched a surprise major ground assault on the Kharkiv region last week as it seeks to advance across the battlefield with Kyiv struggling for arms and manpower.
"In certain spots in Lukyantsi and Vovchansk areas, due to the fire impact and assault actions of the enemy, manoeuvres were carried out in order to save the lives of our soldiers, units were removed to advantageous positions," a military spokesman said on state television.
Authorities in Vovchansk said there was intense street-to-street fighting in the border town that before the war had an estimated population of 20,000 people.
"We are here and are evacuating people and helping them. The situation in Vovchansk is extremely difficult," police chief Oleksiy Kharkivsky said on social media.
