Portugal welcomes with “open arms” Ukraine’s request to join the EU, assured this Saturday in kyiv the Portuguese Prime Minister, António Costa, at a joint press conference with the Ukrainian President, Volodímir Zelenski, in which he requested speed in the process as it is a country in a state of war.
Costa stated that he awaits “with great expectation” the report that the European Commission will present in June on Ukraine’s integration into the bloc and described the speed with which they have submitted the documentation as “admirable”.
He assured that he has offered the Ukrainian president “all the technical support” and “the exchange of experiences” on the accession process and hopes that the visit in June of Zelenski’s deputy chief of staff to Portugal “will be the beginning of that joint work” to support this Ukrainian ‘ambition’.
He defended the need for the 27 to remain united because “the worst thing the European Union can do to Ukraine is to divide it.”
The Ukrainian president explained that, although the “path is very complicated” to join, Ukraine is traveling “that path in the middle of a war”, so it cannot be compared to other requests.
He urged to receive more military and economic support in order, in addition to recovering the territory, to be able to free up their export routes and avoid “a food crisis” in countries dependent on their agricultural production.
THE “ESSENTIAL” IS “TOTAL BLOCKADE” OF RUSSIAN FUELS
Regarding the aid granted by Portugal, Costa highlighted the humanitarian and military support provided and how they are “helping to create the conditions so that all the countries of the European Union can remain united in supporting the sixth package of sanctions.”
He recognized the dependence on Russian fuels that some European countries have, for which he assured that Portugal will invest to create “conditions” and logistical options so that these countries find other ways to supply themselves with gas and oil.
What is “essential” is the “total blockade” of all fuel imports that come from Russia, “because it is the most effective way of not continuing to finance Russia’s war effort,” said the Portuguese prime minister.
PORTUGAL OFFERS TO REBUILD SCHOOLS
For the reconstruction of Ukraine, Costa explained that Portugal can help in the rehabilitation of a region or a specific sector, such as schools and nurseries, which have also suffered damage from the war, which began on February 24.
«Portugal in recent years has developed a great capacity to renovate its school park. It has accumulated experience in this matter and therefore it is a differentiated contribution that we can give », he argued.
During his visit to Ukraine, which began today after visiting Poland and Romania this week, the Portuguese prime minister also denounced the “illegal invasion and the barbaric way in which Russia has conducted the war” and assured that they are working for the integration of the Ukrainians. who have requested protection in Portugal.
