Volodymyr Zelensky. – Europa Press/Contact/Guillermo Gutierrez Carrasca
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The agreement alludes to Lisbon’s commitment to guarantee “training, maintenance and donation of equipment” for F-16 fighters
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The Government of Portugal will allocate to Ukraine this year an economic and military aid package valued at 126 million euros, as part of the agreement ratified this Tuesday in Lisbon, on the occasion of the visit of President Volodimir Zelenski, and which lasts for next ten years.
“Portugal unwaveringly supports the freedom, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, within its internationally recognized borders in 1991 and recognizes Ukraine’s inherent right to self-defense,” states the agreement ratified this Tuesday.
The Portuguese Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, has promised that Lisbon will maintain an “unbreakable commitment” to kyiv while the agreement is in force, although he has specified that “technically and legally” it is not binding, while reiterating all support for their aspirations to join NATO and the EU.
Montenegro has also announced that Portugal will be represented at the peace summit in Switzerland on June 15 and 16 by the president of the republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, and the minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel.
For his part, Zelensky has been convinced that the agreement will be of great importance, as those that Ukraine has signed with other European partners, such as France and Denmark, are already being, he highlighted. “I believe that when leaders sign a bilateral agreement they are a mirror of that country,” he acknowledged.
“All the security agreements show that the solidarity of our partners is more than words, they are concrete aid,” said Zelensky, who has warned of the risks posed by the “Russian narratives” that seek to separate Ukraine from its allies. “We cannot get tired of war,” he said.
The agreement commits Portugal to support reforms of Ukraine’s defense sector, including its security forces, improvements in interoperability under NATO standards, military equipment, industrial cooperation, but always “prioritizing the main capabilities needs” from kyiv.
Likewise, Portugal will continue to support Ukraine financially and militarily in all international forums and initiatives dedicated to its defense. The agreement, of almost 90 points, also alludes to Lisbon’s commitment to guarantee “training, maintenance and donation of equipment” for F-16 fighters.
“Participants remind that Ukraine’s future lies in NATO. Ukraine has become increasingly interoperable and politically integrated with the Alliance. Ukraine has made substantial progress on its reform path and will join NATO in the future, when allies agree and the conditions are met,” the letter reads.
As part of his visit to Portugal, Zelensky also met at the Belém Palace with the president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, before leaving for the Figo Maduro military airport. His plane will be escorted by F-16 until it leaves Portuguese airspace.
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