The Catalan government has activated an interdepartmental group to monitor the war in Ukraine. This cabinet is made up of a total of eight separate areas; the presidency office; the area of the vice-presidency, digital policies and territory; interior; foreign action and open government; equality and feminisms; business and employment; social rights and health. In a statement, the executive explains that the Catalan president, Pere Aragonès, has decided to promote this monitoring group "with the aim of studying the evolution of events and their consequences, with special attention to the worrying humanitarian crisis that could arise from it and the response that could be given from Catalonia, which will always be a land of welcoming and peace". It also explains that this is being done "in order to be useful to Catalan citizens and companies who are established in the area, and to Ukrainian citizens who reside or are present in Catalonia".
In addition to this group set up by the government this afternoon, president Aragonès met with the foreign minister, Victòria Alsina. In this meeting, the scenarios that could open up as a result of this situation of invasion by Russian forces of Ukrainian territory were addressed. In a tweet, Pere Aragonès expressed the government's position on the conflict: "We join the international call for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Ukraine." The president pointed out that "Russia's military actions compromise peace and stability" and stated that "a return to diplomacy is essential."
Catalan president Pere Aragonès's message, adding the government of Catalonia's voice to the international call for an immediate halt to hostilities in Ukraine.
Alsina meets with the consul general of Ukraine
Another meeting that took place this Thursday at the government's Generalitat palace was between the foreign action head, Victoria Alsina, and the consul general of Ukraine in Barcelona, Vorobyov Artem. On Twitter, the Catalan minister explained that she had conveyed her "government's condemnation of the Russian military operation and its support for the sanctions announced by the European Union". In addition, Alsina announced that they have offered help to Ukrainians "who are living in our country and cannot return home." The government also made available the Generalitat's network of hostels to accommodate families who require it, while the health ministry is to send medical supplies to the Ukraine.
On Wednesday, Victoria Alsina had already spoken about the situation in Ukraine, just prior to the start of Russia's violent response, stressing that the Catalan administration supports the Ukrainians: "Ukraine is a sovereign country that has the right to decide its future and strategic alliances without foreign interference. Putin's perversion of the principle of self-determination to cover up an imperialist aggression is unacceptable. Force must never prevail over democracy." The foreign minister added that Catalonia "calls on the European Union for a totally unified joint position" and pointed out that what is needed are "strong sanctions without delay in response to a new violation of international law and the rupture of the Minsk agreements".