Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky this Thursday thanked Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa for his “comprehensive and consistent support” at the military, political and humanitarian level, in particular his availability to train Ukrainian pilots.
In a message released through his official page on the Telegram social network, accompanied by a short video depicting the meeting between the leaders in Moldova, the Ukrainian head of state in particular underlined “the willingness of Portugal to participate in the training of Ukrainian pilots”. . .
“I appreciate the comprehensive and consistent support to Ukraine by the government of Portugal – military, political and humanitarian,” Zelensky stressed.
“Portugal’s assistance is extremely important to contain Russian aggression and restore Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he added, after the meeting on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit, the cooperation platform for the security and stability of Ukraine. European Union (EU) and other countries, now focused on peace and energy.
The Portuguese prime minister also responded to the meeting with Zelensky via Twitter, guaranteeing “military, political, diplomatic and humanitarian” support.
“We stand side by side with Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and international law, and in seeking a just and lasting peace. For this to happen, Russia cannot win this war,” emphasizes António Costa.
We go side by side with the #Ukraine in defense of its territorial integrity and international law, and in the search for a just and lasting peace. For that to happen, Russia cannot win this war. pic.twitter.com/hQUmGqhgUi
Antonio Costa (@antoniocostapm) June 1, 2023
In Moldova, Volodymyr Zelensky asked for an explicit invitation to Ukraine to join the Atlantic Alliance, also underlining the importance of protecting Ukrainian airspace with the F-16 fighter jets Ukraine has been asking for for months his allies.
The Ukrainian president also proposed at the summit to create an anti-missile shield with aircraft and modern air defenses to protect the airspace of the entire European continent.
Speaking to the Portuguese press at the end of the second European Political Community Summit, António Costa stressed that NATO allies are finalizing a “common position” on Ukraine’s future in the Atlantic Alliance.
António Costa emphasized that the question of Ukraine’s integration into NATO “is not on the agenda for the time being”, António Costa defended that “the best way to guarantee a just and lasting peace, after the end of the military offensive, depends on what the negotiations of the peace terms”.
“Unfortunately, we are still far from that situation,” said the prime minister, still regretting the “very violent attacks on Kiev” recorded today.
António Costa also stressed to journalists the availability of Portugal to train Ukrainian pilots in the use of F-16 fighters, pointing out that there is no availability to send planes for now.
Source: DN
