António Costa says that it will be possible to deliver in March to Ukraine the three Leopard 2 tanks that Portugal made available under the European cooperation mechanism.
The F16 fighters are “all destined for missions we cannot do without”, due to their participation in various NATO programs and a cooperation agreement with Romania, it will therefore not be possible to send any of these aircraft to Ukraine.
Speaking to journalists and to Brussels, the Prime Minister recalled that “since the beginning of the war” Portugal “has tried to support [a Ucrânia] within the possibilities”. First with humanitarian support -the most urgent-, then with material support and now with military support.
“We are in a very decisive phase of this war, everything will be played out in the coming months”, considers António Costa, recalling that Ukraine should define the terms of peace, “as an attacked country”.
“It is Russia that has to stop the war, it is Russia that has to lose this war,” he reinforces. “It would be a tragedy for the world if the result of this war were a victory for those who are against international law, who do not respect international law, the right to the integrity of territories, the right to sovereignty of peoples. , the right to self-determination of each of the nations, is essential to ensure this victory.
The leaders of the European Union (EU) meet this Thursday, in Brussels, in an extraordinary summit to discuss migration policy and the economic situation, with the participation of the President of Ukraine who promises to attract attention.
After surprise trips to Washington DC, in the United States, at the end of December, and to Paris and London on Wednesday, Volodymyr Zelensky will participate today in the European Council, according to various European sources. Brussels never officially confirmed the presence of the Ukrainian president.
The confirmation came, however, through the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, during a preparatory debate for the Council meeting, in parliament: “There are two fundamental points in the European Council. Firstly, the meeting with the president Zelensky, who will participate in person in the European Council, and which will allow us to discuss together not only the process of supporting Ukraine to continue to face Russia’s aggression, but also Ukraine’s European prospects.”
Source: TSF
