In Brussels this Monday, Foreign Minister João Gomes Cravinho praised the “recapture of Kherson” as a sign of “courage” on the Ukrainian side.
“The recapture of Kherson shows that the war is currently moving in the desired direction, namely with the reconquest of territories illegally occupied by Russia,” said the minister, who said it “represents a moment of great importance, with a high symbolic value”. and also a high military strategic value”.
“I think on the one hand this shows the determination, courage and strength of the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian armed forces, and on the other hand also the support we are all giving, transatlantically and in Europe, to Ukraine. exactly the support that Ukraine needs,” emphasizes João Gomes Cravinho
The minister was still convinced that “the setbacks for Russia will not stop here and that is why we look forward to this moment with great satisfaction and optimism”.
Cravinho spoke on the sidelines of a Council of Foreign Ministers in which the 27 formalized procedures for a European mission to support the training of 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers, in which Portugal will participate.
At the end of the meeting, the head of European diplomacy, Joseph Borrell, also took stock of European support, in terms of military equipment provided to Ukraine so far, specifying that it is already “45 percent” of donations from the United States. , amounting to “Euro 8000 million”.
More sanctions coming
João Gomes Cravinho, who believes that “the sanctions had an impact on the results” Ukraine achieved on the battlefield, announced that a new package could be on its way.
“Several countries have effectively developed a new package, I think this will happen, there have already been eight packages, there will certainly be a ninth,” he said, pointing out that “the modalities that can be part of this package are still being discussed “.
Overall, a new package of measures would “include sanctions for more individuals and more entities, including banking sanctions for some entities still in the Swift system,” Cravinho conceded.
More sanctions against Iran
European ministers also approved sanctions against Iran, approving a list of 29 individuals and three entities following a vague repression by the authorities against the civilian population and for the sale of “kamikaze drones🇧🇷
Despite Iranian authorities denying it, João Gomes Cravinho claims the European Union has “strong reasons to doubt” Tehran.
“Iran has obligations related to the sanctions imposed by the United Nations not to supply military equipment to other countries and is therefore already in violation of these United Nations Security Council decisions,” the minister said, recalling that the ” Iran began by firmly denying that it is providing drones to Russia”, although he now “admits that he delivered anyway. Now it says it is provided only drones before the war”.
“We have strong reasons to doubt the word of the Iranian authorities and with regard to other possibilities, we know that we cannot rely solely on what they say, we have to look at the evidence,” he stressed.
Source: DN
