Manuel de Almeida / LUSA
Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
The Portuguese Prime Minister stated that “nothing prevents” Portugal from sending military personnel to Ukraine in times of peace, but reiterated that the country will not have soldiers on the ground in this country while the war lasts.
Luis Montenegro was speaking at a joint press conference with the President of Ukraine, as part of his first visit to Kiev as Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister admitted sending peacekeepers to Ukraine: “Nothing will prevent the Portuguese military from doing in Ukraine what they are already doing next door, in Slovakia, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, in many other countries where our National Forces Deployed within the European Union, within NATO, participate in peacekeeping missions and participate in deterrence and security missions.”
Still, Montenegro said he wanted to be very clear: “Today, this is not foreseen and therefore, today, our participation does not involve any type of earthly commitment. It already involves participation at sea and air level.”
“In the future, everything will be open under our responsibilities”, he assured.
When asked whether he understood the Portuguese position, the President of the Republic Volodymyr Zelenskyy disse entender that only after the ceasefire can we talk about this topic.
“I agree with Luís, it’s too early to talk about it”said, stated.
Portugal and Ukraine agree joint production of underwater drones
Portugal and Ukraine celebrated a agreement for joint production of underwater drones and the holding of an economic forum between the two countriesannounced the Portuguese Prime Minister.
“Portugal and Ukraine have, in terms of unmanned vehicles, knowledge that is currently at the forefront of the world”, highlighted Luís Montenegro.
The Prime Minister announced the availability to produce in Portugal “drones with Ukrainian technology and scientific knowledge”, as well as the country’s availability to bring scientific experience and knowledge to its “productive capacity for Ukraine”.
Luís Montenegro also said that Portugal and Ukraine want this meeting to mean “a turning point” in economic relations between the two countries, announcing the holding a bilateral economic forum next year.
Montenegro highlighted that cooperation with Ukraine – which reached 227.5 million euros in military support this year – “is not just military, it is also political”, highlighting the agreement reached at the European level.
