Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho defended this Friday that the Portuguese should prepare for prolonging the war in Ukraine until at least 2024, despite the advance of the counter-offensive against Russia’s invasion.
The head of Portuguese diplomacy revealed that he was monitoring the developments of the counter-offensive by Ukrainian troops on a daily basis, but stated that he was aware that this would take several months.
“I think unfortunately we have to get used to the possibility of a conflict going into 2024 that will be with us for a few more months”he told journalists on a visit to the UK, where he will meet his British counterpart James Cleverly in London on Friday.
Cravinho reiterated that it is essential to continue to support Ukraine.
“There is great consensus and willingness to ensure that Russia eventually suffers a strategic defeat. Anything that is not a strategic defeat for Russia will unfortunately be a strategic defeat for us and we cannot accept that.”creased.
Cravinho also argued that it is “very reasonable for Russia to accept an extension not just for two months, as has been the case lately” of the grain export agreement.
“Russia has some demands in that regard. The current grain agreement runs until July, mid-July, and in this process we are working with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and other bodies of the United Nations and also with Turkey to negotiate conditions for a extension that is for a much longer period of time”he explained.
The Portuguese government considers an agreement “fundamental to avoid food security problems in other parts of the world, especially in Africa”.
Source: DN
