Prime Minister Antonio Costa announced at the end of a video chat this Wednesday with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal that he has accepted the invitation to visit Kyiv. The PM will also meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and the date has been set, although it will not yet be announced.
Financial support will also be sent to Ukraine, although a number has not been revealed. The Ukrainian Prime Minister said the country needs around 5 million euros a month. PM Costa said that “Portugal does not have the conditions to respond to aid of that dimension, but will contribute with a substantial value”.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa told the press that Costa’s visit to Kyiv “is important for Portugal and for the Portuguese people”. He says that Portugal is “committed to helping in all domains”, whether it be humanitarian, political, financial, military, etc.
Antonio Costa reaffirmed his support for the Ukrainian people, condemning the war as “illegal, illegitimate, and brutal” and calling for a cease-fire. When asked about Ukraine’s request to join the EU, he responded that “we should not distract ourselves with medium and long term objectives when there are immediate responses needed”.
The Prime Minister also said that although the Socialist Party’s views on the conflict diverge from those of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), the legalization of the PCP is “inconceivable”. He says that it “is a part of a democracy that political parties have the opportunity to choose their own positions”. President Marcelo made a similar comment on Tuesday, saying that “there is a place for all opinions”.
