Russia’s action is "a military invasion with a view to occupation"

The Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine "with no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’" and lamented the "dozens of people who lost their lives" in this military attack.

In a session of Parliament’s permanent committee, the Minister vehemently condemned the Russian attack, which is "the greatest security crisis Europe faces since World War II".

Santos Silva underlined that Russia’s action against Ukraine "needs to be well defined": it is "a military invasion with a view to occupation" and a "blatant violation of the international rules and the United Nations charter". 

This "intolerable attack, unacceptable by the international community" thereby deserves "to be condemned with no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’".

The Minister showed his solidarity with all the Ukrainian people, "especially the more than 28 thousand Ukrainians who live in Portugal, who don’t deserve to see their relatives, friends and neighbours experience such barbarity".

Santos Silva reiterated Portugal’s availability to take in friends and relatives of Ukrainian citizens residing in Portugal and other refugees that may be the outcome of the war on Ukraine.

The Minister asked Russia once again to withdraw its troops and "cease this attack".