The Government of the Balearic Islands has reiterated its institutional support for the Ukrainian community residing and seeking refuge on the islands on the occasion of the third anniversary of the start of the war in Ukraine. The Minister of Presidency and Public Administrations, Antònia Maria Estarellas, expressed this support during a meeting held this morning with the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Balearic Islands, Volodymyr Nosov.

Ukrainian Flag

The Minister of Presidency and Public Administrations, Antònia Maria Estarellas; the Honorary Consul of Ukraine in the Balearic Islands, Volodymyr Nosov; and the Director General of Institutional Relations and with Parliament, Xesca Ramis. Photo: CAIB.

During the meeting, held at the ministry’s headquarters, new forms of collaboration and support from the autonomous community towards the Ukrainian people were explored. “This is an unjust war, in violation of international law, illegally initiated by Russia,” Estarellas emphasised at the end of the meeting.

As a symbolic gesture of solidarity, the Government raised the Ukrainian flag at Passeig de Sagrera. The Honorary Consul, Volodymyr Nosov, expressed his gratitude, calling the act a “sign of friendship and humanity,” and highlighted that “this gesture shows that Spain understands the gravity of what is happening and the impact of Russia’s actions on Ukraine.”

The event was also attended by the Director General of Institutional Relations and with Parliament, Xesca Ramis, and the Secretary General of the Honorary Consulate, Andriy Chumachenko, who reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to defending human rights and promoting international solidarity.

International Condemnation

The war in Ukraine began on 24 February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukrainian territory, marking a significant escalation of the conflict that started in 2014 with the annexation of Crimea and the fighting in Donbas. The Russian offensive was widely condemned by the international community for violating international law and Ukraine’s sovereignty. The conflict has resulted in thousands of deaths, millions of displaced people, and a large-scale humanitarian crisis. With military, economic, and humanitarian support from numerous Western countries and international organisations, Ukraine has resisted the invasion, while fighting continues to impact the region and fuel global geopolitical tensions.

Recent developments in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have sparked renewed international focus. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has convened a summit in Kyiv today, attended by 37 international leaders, aiming to discuss steps towards ending the conflict and exploring potential security guarantees for Ukraine in the post-war period. Meanwhile, the United States and Russia have engaged in peace talks, driven by U.S. President Donald Trump, in an effort to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine. These negotiations have raised concerns in Europe due to the exclusion of both the European Union and Ukraine from the discussions.