Gomes Cravinho: “Kamov helicopters? We are not worried about satisfying Russia”

The foreign minister said on Thursday about sending Kamov helicopters to Ukraine that Portugal has condemned the Russian invasion from the outset and is not trying to satisfy Russia.

“There is no reason why we cannot offer Ukraine this support”João Gomes defended Cravinho in statements to journalists in Dublin, where he follows the state visit of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.

When asked whether Russia’s dissatisfaction with the delivery of Kamov helicopters should not worry Portugal, the minister replied: “No. We have an invasion of Ukraine by Russia, our concern is not to please Russia, we are concerned about creating the conditions for Russia to leave the occupied territories of Ukraine and return to international legality.”

According to him, this gesture does not constitute a “new front” because Portugal has taken a “very clear” stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine since the beginning, on February 24.

“We support Ukraine in this process of defending its territory, its territorial integrity and its sovereignty, and we condemn without any nuance the invasion of Ukraine by Russia”he emphasized.

In context, the minister said that: “what was foreseen was the recovery of the Kamovs”but “With the outbreak of the war and with the sanctions, that was no longer possible, because most of the pieces come from Russia.”

“Ukraine, on the other hand, has its own supply chain and is therefore able to win back the Kamovs and in that sense the Ukrainians were very pleased with this opportunity that is now going to arise.”he added.

In October, Portugal announced it would send six Kamov helicopters, of Russian origin, to Ukraine.

Defense Minister Helena Carreiras said on Thursday that the government maintains its intention to send the six helicopters to Ukraine and expressed ignorance about the Russian regime’s criticism of the issue.

Of the six state Kamovs purchased in 2006, one has been damaged since 2012, while two more have been under repair since 2015 and the remaining three have been out of order since early 2018.