The Socialist Prime Minister announced on Thursday that Portugal will contribute €2.1 million in humanitarian aid to Ukraine, of which €1 million will be allocated to responses by the United Nations.
PM Costa stated the amount at the High Level Conference on Doares for Ukraine through video, organized by the Prime Ministers of Poland and Sweden, in partnership with the European Commission and European Council.
The PM condemned the actions of Russia saying “It is an unacceptable act of war in the 21st century. The consequences of this aggression extend beyond the Ukrainian territory, with millions of refugees looking for safety throughout our continent”. He said that although “Portugal is the most western country in Europe and the most far away from Ukraine, it has welcomed 35,000 Ukrainian refugees”.
On Wednesday, the Ukrainian Prime Minister said the country needs around 5 million euros a month. PM Costa had said that “Portugal does not have the conditions to respond to aid of that dimension, but will contribute with a substantial value”.
Prime Minister Antonio Costa also 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.
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.
The European Commission also announced on Thursday a new financial package of €200 million from the EU. Ursula von der Leyen said this aid would go to “people in Ukraine, people displaced internally in Ukraine, and hopes that many others will follow us”.
