Portugal reiterates its military, political, diplomatic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine

Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa reiterated the country’s military, political, diplomatic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Bulboaca, Moldova, where both attended the European Political Community Summit.

"We still stand side by side with Ukraine to uphold its territorial integrity and international law, and to find a just and long-lasting peace. For this to be possible, Russia cannot win this war", he wrote on Twitter.

António Costa also wrote that the meeting with the President of Ukraine was "highly useful". In a statement to the press, he added that "Portugal has shipped a fair amount of military equipment of different sorts", according to its "capabilities and availability".

Specifically referring to the request for F16 fighter jets, he claimed that Portugal is only available to take part in training Ukrainian pilots.

Europe’s strategic autonomy

The Second European Political Community Summit is an "important format to discuss the common challenges our continent faces in the field of security, energy, and connectivity", the Prime Minister wrote.

The political leaders of 43 countries and three European institutions attended the summit and the fact that it was held in Eastern Moldova, a country whose territorial integrity is contested by Russian separatists, and where Russian forces are stationed, was a clear political signal.

António Costa added it shared "our pioneering path towards the energy transition with results for instance in producing green hydrogen", noting "the contribution Portugal can offer to Europe’s strategic autonomy in this area".

Energy Security

The Prime Minister noted in this statement that "this meeting of the European Political Community was another moment for us to meet as Europe in its wider perspective and not just restricted to the European Union and see how we can face the common challenges of increasing energy security", which is "a huge opportunity for the whole of Europe to invest in accelerating the energy transition and boosting interconnections".

"Security means diversifying suppliers, routes, energy production sources, and Portugal can play a strategic role because it is one of the countries with the most intense use of renewables", he said.

Interconnections

In 2022, "even during a year with a major drought, 58% of the electricity we consumed came from renewables and in the first quarter of this year, with more rainfall, we were able to hit 75%", he said, recalling the target of reaching 2026 with 80% of electricity produced using renewables.

This production enables the country "to be at the forefront of the revolution that is green hydrogen and other green gases" and the European grid interconnections "are major opportunities for us to stop being importers, as well as, above all, becoming exporters".

The interconnections may be "by land, through the agreement with Spain and France", or "by sea, given the agreement approved by the European Commission between the Port of Sines and Rotterdam, and which we are open to extend to other countries, namely Germany", he said.

Alongside this summit, António Costa met with the Prime Minister of Moldova, Dorin Recean, the Austrian Chancellor, Karl Nehammer, and the Head of Government of Andorra, Xavier Espot, as well as with the President of Ukraine.