Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, Zelensky expressed gratitude for the Portuguese people’s support for Ukrainians and their families, saying that it will never be forgotten and will form “a strong basis for the future relationship” between Portugal and Ukraine.

The cooperation and security agreement signed today during Zelensky’s visit to Lisbon includes a commitment by Portugal to provide Kyiv with at least €126 million in military support this year, including financial and in-kind contributions.

The agreement, signed at São Bento between the Portuguese Prime Minister and the Ukrainian President, has a ten-year horizon and also states that “Portugal will contribute with additional military support to Ukraine, including that to be agreed within the framework of the European Union, NATO and other relevant international fora”.

In his statement after the signing of the agreement, the Ukrainian President said that the understanding is not only valuable for the amounts involved, but for its potential over a decade.

"This does not mean that the war will last ten years," he noted, highlighting the agreement's characteristic as "a strategic partnership, which speaks about reconstruction, about humanitarian aid, about medicine, about rehabilitation".

The Ukrainian leader pointed out that the understanding covers all areas of cooperation between Lisbon and Kyiv, highlighting the military sector and Portugal's collaboration in training for the operation of American F-16 fighter jets.

For Zelensky, the Portuguese and European support demonstrates the "strong connection" between the two countries "against Russian aggression, which wants to destroy human rights, peace in Europe" and cancel his country's status in the United Nations.

In this regard, the Ukrainian leader warned of the importance of his peace initiative, to be held next month in Switzerland, which will be attended by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, once again thanking Lisbon for its support for Kyiv's efforts.

"We expect several nations at this summit so that everyone can declare their defence of peace and end the Russian invasion," said Zelensky, who also pointed out Lisbon's help "to integrate other countries" in the meeting that will not be attended by Russia.

The Head of State also mentioned the support for his country's accession to the European Union and described the Portuguese role in this process as "missionary", insisting on respect for international law, but also on the defence of Ukraine's territorial integrity, violated with the invasion that began in February 2022, in the reunion of Ukrainian families separated by the war and by the deportation of children to Russia.

Zelensky also referred to Ukrainians living in Portugal as one of the largest foreign communities in the country, where they are "well integrated and free", which, he continued, also helps to explain why "Portugal and Ukraine are so connected".

The Ukrainian leader commented that this is "one of the most important aspects" of the partnership between Lisbon and Kyiv and expressed his desire to meet with his fellow citizens living in Portugal during his visit to Lisbon, in particular "women and children of the heroes", referring to the relatives of combatants of the Armed Forces.  

[News updated at 6:50 pm]

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