Zelensky Cancels Visits to Spain and Portugal Due to Situation on the Front

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has canceled his visits to Spain and Portugal, which were scheduled for this weekend, according to SIC Notícias.

As reported by CNN Portugal, the reason for the cancellation of the trips is the difficult situation on the front lines. "The surrounding of the Ukrainian leader has likely realized that the critical situation in several parts of the front, particularly in Kharkiv, does not encourage traveling abroad at this time," the publication states.

Zelensky was supposed to visit Spain on Friday, May 17. A meeting was planned between the President of Ukraine and King Felipe VI of Spain in Madrid. It was also expected that Zelensky would meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to sign a bilateral security agreement.

Meanwhile, in Lisbon, according to SIC Notícias, Zelensky was to sign a bilateral agreement on security guarantees.

On May 10, Russian forces launched a new assault in the Kharkiv region. The next day, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported the capture of five villages, followed by several more. The Chief Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, admitted that the situation in this area has significantly deteriorated, and on the evening of May 14, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian military personnel had "moved to more advantageous positions" in the area of Volchansk and the village of Lukyantsi north of Kharkiv.