"Portugal has, unfortunately, little to offer in terms of concrete military support, but it has a lot to offer in terms of diplomatic and political support," João Cotrim de Figueiredo told reporters at the entrance to a campaign lunch in Lisbon.

The liberal candidate, who is accompanied by the party president, Rui Rocha, at lunch, admitted that he has not yet given up trying to meet with the President of Ukraine, on the short visit he is making to Portugal today, but understands the reasons invoked for this meeting not to be able to happen.

"The reasons that are invoked are valid reasons, it is a short visit and the strong security measures require some solutions," he stressed.

João Cotrim de Figueiredo added that if he cannot even be with Volodymyr Zelensky, he will call him directly to convey all his solidarity.

The liberal candidate stressed that the IL "is with Ukraine without `buts` and without `since`".

In his opinion, it is up to Ukraine to decide whether or not it is in NATO and whether or not it is in the European Union.

"Only this freedom to continue to choose corresponds to a victory for Ukraine, everything else will be insufficient," he said.

The IL's top candidate in the European elections also considered that the visit of the Ukrainian President to Portugal is an "excellent opportunity" for the various political parties to clarify their position in relation to this country.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, will pay a visit to Portugal this afternoon, where he will be received by the head of state and the prime minister and will sign a ten-year bilateral cooperation agreement.

According to a note released on Monday by the Portuguese Presidency and the Prime Minister's office, this is a "working visit" with the aim of "deepening the excellent relations between the two states, with a particular focus on strengthening cooperation in the field of security and defence".

Volodymyr Zelensky, who arrives in Portugal after a visit to Spain and Belgium, will first have a meeting at the official residence of the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, where a bilateral agreement will be signed, and will then be received by the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at the Palácio de Belém.

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