“He’s not perfect, but he’s the best Ukrainian speaker there is.” Next to the press bench, an audio producer smiles and comments on what he has just heard, on Saint Sophia Square in Kiev.
Everyone already knew that the use of the Ukrainian language in the country has increased in the last year and a half. But no one could have predicted that it would reach the point it reached on Thursday morning. This day again marked August 24, 1991, 32 years of independence from Ukraine. But in the discreet ceremony to mark the date, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was the center of attention in Kiev’s Santa Sofia Square. The President of the Republic gave lavish greetings, smiled, and sat down to the right of the First Lady. But when it seemed that he could no longer surprise, he did what had never been heard in Kiev: he spoke in Ukrainian.
On stage were the President of the Republic of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, Volodymyr Zelensky and, of course, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Zelensky’s dark green contrasts with the azure blue and gold of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral in the background. To address the few hundred soldiers of the Ukrainian armed forces, they all chose different paths. Norwegian Labor preferred to use English. Nauseda, a regular customer in Ukraine, used Ukrainian, which is very similar to Taras Shevchenko’s language. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa showed that he had taken an intensive Ukrainian course. Of all the speakers, Portuguese was the shortest, but also the most interrupted by applause. Volodymyr Zelensky even sketched a bow addressed to the Portuguese. Taras Shevchenko’s newest language student passed the exam with flying colors. But it was not only the form, the content was also poetry for Ukrainian ears.
At the end of the day, Marcelo Rebelo would explain to de Sousa that the decision was made five minutes before he began to speak. The lyrics were supposed to be in English, but he couldn’t help realizing that the Lithuanian counterpart was doing it in what he thought was Ukrainian. Not wanting to be left behind by Nausėda, Marcelo produced the alternative solution he had prepared. And in plain Portuguese he added, “I tried my very best to speak Ukrainian.”
Marcelo reaffirmed that “Portugal will be and always will be independent”. He again condemned the “unbearable Russian invasion”. And he also reiterated an idea of the “legitimate defense” of Ukraine, without which, Marcelo reiterates, “there will be no peace and security in Europe”. Looking to the future, the president of the republic spoke about the European Union and NATO. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa played in the field of affection, sending a hug to all the “brave and indomitable” people. A hug that became special when it reached the Ukrainian community in Portugal. “Slava Ukraina”, which is the same as saying Glory to Ukraine.
From Hagia Sophia Square, the two heads of state made their way to the presidential palace. At the meeting, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa tried to present Volodymyr Zelensky with the Great Collar of the Order of Freedom, but the Ukrainian has not accepted any award since the beginning of the war. He refused and the award was due to the protocol of awarding the diploma. Aid to Ukraine was the highlight of the meeting. But there was still time for lunch. A visit by Zelensky to Portugal was also considered. “Let’s see when it is possible,” the Ukrainian later replied during the joint press conference at the end of the game. Then Marcelo’s Ukrainian came back as a subject. “But I heard him speak Ukrainian this morning,” Zelensky fired, when the president of the republic said he would speak in Portuguese.
Marcelo took advantage of the conference to return to the Portuguese community. “An example of integration long before the war,” underlined Marcelo. The Portuguese head of state once again reminded that Portugal will help Ukraine with the logistics needed to operate the F-16 fighter jets.
The death of the leader of the Wagner group was one of the hot topics in the international press and Ukraine was no exception. Volodymyr Zelensky denied Kiev’s involvement in the downing of Prigozhin’s plane. And with a smile, he underlined: “This was not what I had in mind when we talked to the world about airplanes”.
For Flag Day of Ukraine, Zelensky chose a shirt with the traditional Ukrainian cut and embroidery. Less conventional was the lunch of the day (see menu photo).
After the press conference, the two heads of state were together for the last time. The fourth in less than 24 hours. Volodymyr Zelensky served Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa tomatoes with brynza cheese (a fresh sheep cheese). Ukrainian Borsch, a soup that can be drunk cold, very suitable for summer in Kiev, after warming up with creamy chanterelle soup. In the main dishes waterfowl and fish. Perch loin (a highly valued specialty in Eastern Europe) followed by duck magret. The wines were produced in the south of Ukraine, very close to Moldova, when the war was still far away. The red one was Colonist Cabernet Merlot LX Haut de Gamme from 2018. A special edition made on the occasion of the 60th birthday of the founder of the house Ivan Plachkov. For bass there was also Chardonnay from producer Kolonist. A Haut de Gamme of 2021, when the arrival of the Russians could already be felt on the horizon.
Lunch gave strength for the return of “hurricane” Marcelo to the streets of Kiev. In the afternoon, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa met the Ukrainian Prime Minister, went to a children’s home and visited the Cathedral of Santa Sofia, “a symbol of resistance both in the past and still today,” explains Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
But the day did not end without the Portuguese head of state making another turn for Ukrainian security. The president decided to use the late afternoon to test popularity in Kiev. If this was an investigation, Zelensky might start to worry. Without his schedule letting him predict it, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa decided to visit Maidan Square. The end of a warm holiday afternoon invites you to visit the Russian tanks on display there. After a public bath, the president took the opportunity to have a beer, “big and great,” in his words. A nightmare for Ukrainian security and even for the most hardened Portuguese in these marches.
With about two and a half years left to serve, the president expects to return to the Ukrainian capital within that time. “Who wouldn’t want to go back to Kiev?” the president surrenders to the charms of the city.
Source: DN
