In Kiev on Friday, the defense minister defended the importance of outlining realistic objectives regarding aid to Ukraine, stating that despite there being limits, Portugal is managing to help “in multiple” ways.
“More than outlining unrealistic objectives, it is important to fulfill the commitments we have made. We are a credible and reliable ally, and this is our heritage, which we want to preserve and strengthen,” said Helena Carreiras after a meeting with her counterpart from Ukraine, Oleksiï Reznikov, in Kiev.
The defense minister was in the Ukrainian capital today on behalf of the Portuguese government. One year ago today, the Russian Federation began its invasion of Ukraine.
Asked what more Portugal can do to help Ukraine, especially now that Helena Carreiras’ counterpart has announced a counter-offensive to try and repel Moscow’s troops from the Donetsk region, Helena Carreiras replied that everything Portugal has done since February 24 last years has been in cooperation with the other member states of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the European Union and the contact group for Ukraine.
“There are limits, of course, there are limits, but there are also opportunities to help in multiple ways,” said the official, namely training to use the Leopard 02 A6 combat vehicles that Portugal will send to Ukraine.
Portugal will send three Leopard 2s as part of a joint effort by NATO countries to respond to a request made months ago by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Early in the morning, the Minister of National Defense took part in the ceremony organized by the President of Ukraine with diplomats from various European Union member states and others who support the country.
Helena Carreiras felt it necessary to convey the message that it is only possible to move forward through channels of dialogue and “build a world where boundaries are not defined by force”.
“The defense of Ukraine is also our defense. The security of Ukraine has to do with the security of Europe,” he concluded.
Minister criticizes Beijing’s “very ambiguous position”.
The defense minister also criticized China’s “ambiguous position” on the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine, but declined to comment on Beijing’s proposed peace plan because it is not yet known.
Helena Carreiras criticized the position of Xi Jinping’s government in relation to Vladimir Putin’s: “I would say that the concern for peace is important, the reaffirmation of the inadequacy of any nuclear option, but China has a very ambiguous position and the position of neutrality that was initially demonstrated is hardly maintained.”
The proposal submitted by Beijing calls for political agreement and rationality between the parties involved. There is no line of condemnation for Moscow’s aggression and with a neutral language, China proposes to respect the “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all countries”.
“Dialogue and Negotiations”. It is the country’s general request to end the conflict that today completes a year, in 12 points, but without any reference to requests such as the withdrawal of the Russian army from Ukrainian territory, made by Kiev, or the end of the delivery of weapons by NATO countries to Ukraine, made by Moscow.
Source: DN
