ukraine

"Do not blame Russia, this is Putin’s war," International Catalan Institute for Peace director warns

Kyiv resident Pavlo B. tells Catalan News about life in war-torn Ukraine

Family left Ukraine over a week ago when first bombs started, now plans to "defend" country

Various entities are gathering long-lasting food, clothes, medical supplies, and defence material to send to Ukraine

Catalonia’s main culture establishments take different approaches to reject conflict in Eastern Europe

Marc Gual plays for Dnipro and fled the country on a 27-hour journey after sheltering in a bunker when first bombings hit

On a rainy evening, 3,500 people gather to claim "no to war" with signs comparing the Russian president to Adolf Hitler 

Hundreds in central Barcelona voice opposition to Russian invasion for sixth evening in a row

Medicines, long-lasting food and warm clothes are the priority of initiative headquartered on Catalan capital's La Rambla

Relatives welcome woman and her three children after two-day journey fleeing war

Demonstrators joined by some Russian nationals showing their solidarity call Putin a "terrorist" and a "killer"

36-year-old was supposed to take flight to Kyiv from El Prat but did not board plane

Ukrainian filmmaker was in Barcelona for EU event but preferred to leave opinions about jailed Catalan independence leaders to NGOs

11 MEPs from different parties, amongst them Catalan liberal party CDC MEP Ramon Tremosa, have sent a parliamentary question to the EC’s vice president, Federica Mogherini, regarding the repeated use of the Spanish port of Ceuta by Russian military ships. According to Ceuta’s local press, this port, located in North Africa, was used by Russia’s fleet at least 57 times between 2011 and 2015 along the ships’ route towards the Black Sea. The fleet included frigates, destroyers and attack submarines. The use of this port by Russian ships coincided with the European fines against Moscow due to its participation through third parties in the civil conflict in Ukraine. Thus, MEPs have asked Mogherini to clarify whether this support from the Spanish authorities contravened ­­­­the European fines and why.

A strategic gas pipeline is to be built through the Catalan Pyrenees, linking the Iberian Peninsula with France and Central Europe. The Midcat project aims to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian gas by 40%, diversifying the sources of supply. The pipeline should be operational by 2020, announced on Thursday the Spanish Minister for Industry, José Manuel Soria. The day before, French President, François Hollande, Spanish PM, Mariano Rajoy, Portuguese PM, Pedro Passos Coelho, and European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker, re-launched the project's construction. Midcat started to be planned in 2007 but it was halted for several years, mainly due to a lack of interest from French companies and institutions, which were not guaranteeing to build their part. Now, the crisis with Russia has reignited the urge to find alternative gas suppliers for Central Europe.