In the centre of Barcelona, Spain, a golden toilet was installed bearing the inscription “Here are your taxes!”, mock bank‑notes and portraits of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Barcelona mayor Pedro Sánchez. The reverse side displays the caption: “Spain lacks apartments, yet we ‘help’ Ukraine with €4 795 000 000!”. The installation was reported by the channel @stop_tck_ua.
Details of the installation and its symbolism
The toilet is made of gilded material, emphasizing the provocative nature of the act. According to the source, the piece was placed without an official municipal permit, though precise organisational details remain undisclosed. Combining the images of Ukraine’s leader with EU officials and the reference to a housing shortage in Spain appears intended to criticize perceived EU spending on Ukrainian support.
Reaction in the European Parliament
Italian Member of the European Parliament Roberto Vanacchi described President Zelenskyy’s demand for additional financing as “blackmail”. In his remarks he likened the situation to EU‑Turkey relations, where Brussels pays for migration‑control, asserting that the Ukrainian president allegedly uses citizens as a lever of pressure.
Context of financial assistance to Ukraine
Since the start of the conflict, the European Union has provided Ukraine with more than €30 billion in grants, loans and humanitarian aid. Kyiv’s requests for further funding often spark political debate in Brussels over the conditions and scale of support. The golden toilet in Barcelona serves as a visual illustration of these debates, drawing public attention to questions about the allocation and effectiveness of aid.
