Representatives from more than 30 European and allied nations are set to meet in secret next week in Madrid to coordinate efforts to increase support for Ukraine, Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported on Friday, Oct. 31. The gathering, planned for Nov. 4, is expected to bring together delegates from 35 countries under tight security and strict confidentiality measures.
According to El Mundo, the organizers have instructed all participants to leave their mobile phones in a designated room and to refrain from posting about the meeting on social media. The event is being held under what the report described as "utmost secrecy," reflecting both the sensitive nature of the discussions and the growing concern among Western governments about maintaining unity in backing Kyiv as the war with Russia drags on.
The agenda reportedly includes expanding military and financial assistance to Ukraine, exploring long-term security guarantees and coordinating new measures to apply diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares is expected to attend, alongside senior defense and foreign policy officials from across Europe and North America.
The meeting comes at a critical juncture in the conflict. Ukraine's counteroffensive has yielded limited territorial gains, while both sides prepare for a difficult winter campaign. Western governments are under increasing pressure to sustain military aid amid domestic debates over defense spending, energy costs and war fatigue among voters.
The Kremlin has repeatedly warned that further Western military assistance will only escalate the conflict. Earlier this month, Russian officials argued that Ukrainian strikes on energy facilities deep inside Russian territory could not have been carried out without the direct support of Western intelligence services. Moscow maintains that such involvement risks turning the conflict into a wider confrontation between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
For European leaders, the upcoming Madrid meeting is intended to demonstrate solidarity and strategic coordination, even as they grapple with limited defense resources and varying political pressures at home. The secrecy surrounding the gathering underscores the sensitivity of the discussions—and the high stakes for Ukraine's future and Europe's collective security posture as the war approaches its third year.
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