Portugal will send 14 armored vehicles to Ukraine
Portugal will send to Ukraine a second set of 14 M113 armored personnel carriers, eight high-capacity generators for the production of electricity, more 120mm ammunition and two tons of medical and health equipment, announced the Minister of National Defence, Helena Carreiras, during the meeting of the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine, which today met in person in Ramstein, Germany.
With this material, which is being prepared for shipment, the total amount of military equipment, lethal and non-lethal, supplied by Portugal to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion rises to 532 tons. Throughout 2022, the Portuguese Government, in conjunction with the Armed Forces, envy for Ukraine arms and ammunition, personal protection and communications equipment, armored personnel carriers and unmanned aerial surveillance vehicles, medical and health equipment, and combat first aid kits.
Before the partners and allies gathered in Ramstein, Helena Carreiras reaffirmed Portugal’s commitment to the defense of Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity, awaiting the Ministry of National Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces “in constant contact with the Ukrainian authorities and analyzing Kiev’s requests, which our country will respond to within its capacities and availability”.
Portugal is part of the new European Union military assistance mission to Ukraine, which will provide training in areas such as the deactivation of explosive devices, medical assistance in combat, nuclear, biological, chemical and radiological defense and military instruction. The Portuguese trainers will be in Germany from February.
In addition, Portugal remains available to receive 40 Ukrainian soldiers wounded in combat at the Armed Forces Hospital.
With regard to Leopard 2 tanks, Portugal participated in a meeting convened by Ukraine and Poland, where the countries that possess these means were present. At that meeting, the Minister of National Defense reiterated the offer of training in this type of combat vehicles and expressed the Portuguese Government’s willingness to identify, in coordination with its partners, ways to support Ukraine with this capability.