Portugal sends over 160 tons of material to Ukraine
Portugal is preparing to send another 160 tons of material to Ukraine, including military equipment, Defense Minister Helena Carreiras said this Tuesday in Brussels, after a Foreign Affairs Council in the Defense field.
Since the first meeting of the European Union, which minister was its first meeting of the Defense of the European Union, Oleks Reznikov, who assumed the first portfolio of Defense of the European Union, Oleks Reznikov, who took over by videoconference, Ukraine “an optimistic assessment” made the situation on the ground, but reinforced the idea that Ukraine continues to need support, “and heavy support to face the challenges that still have”.
According to the minister, there is “everyone’s perception that there is a war that is about to continue” and, from the top of all Member States, the idea that the 27 continue to be part of it, with the EU Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, ending a meeting “asking the Member States what continue to support the resistance to Ukraine, because the Ukrainian people are needed,” he said.
Helena Carreiras reiterated that Portugal, as well as its allies, provided support “as far as possible”, then announcing the sending, soon, of more material, military and not only.
“As was reported, in the first phase we sent 170 tons, more or less, of lethal and non-lethal military material, but also other types of material. We are now preparing a new shipment of another 160 tonnes of material, and I would like to highlight the diversity of ours,” he said.
PORTUGAL AVAILABLE TO RECEIVE WOUNDED UKRAINIANS
The minister stressed that “It’s not just about military equipment, it’s also about medical, sanitary and humanitarian support”having also Portugal expressed “availability to receive Ukrainian people” – which has not yet happened – in addition to the reception of Ukrainian refugees.
“There is, therefore, a wide range of support at this meeting, and we also continued support related to training, for example, or demining, at a later date. Let’s continue to talk about what Ukraine’s needs are, because that’s really what it’s all about,” he said.
Taking stock of her debut at Ministerial Councils in Brussels, Defense Minister “intended to be assigned to Ukraine.
“It was a meeting that surprised me, the first meeting in which I participated, as a matter of fact, as the determination and unity of the defense ministers, for the way in which the determination and unity of the ministers in general in what are the issues that concern us today”, he said, highlighting in particular the “widespread support” for Ukraine in the face of Russian military aggression.
with LUSA