Government highlights ‘broad consensus’ in Portugal to support Ukraine

Presidency minister Mariana Vieira da Silva this Thursday underscored the “broad consensus” that exists in Portugal on “unambiguous support for Ukraine,” declining to comment on statements by the president of the republic that she had not heard.

At a “briefing” by the Council of Ministers this Thursday, the Minister of the Presidency was asked whether the government was in line with the words of the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Souza, said this Thursday in Kiev about the future of Ukraine being “in the European Union and NATO”.

“I will not comment, especially statements that I have not heard. The position of our country in matters of unequivocal support for Ukraine was consensual from the first day,” he stressed.

Reaffirming that she had not heard Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s statements this morning, Mariana Vieira da Silva emphasized that “Portugal benefits from a broad consensus on this issue”, i.e. “in support of Ukraine”.

The President of the Republic this Thursday addressed his colleague Volodymyr Zelensky and the military in Ukrainian to ensure that Portugal will always support the independence of a country that has been fighting the Russian invasion for a year and a half.

“Congratulations, Ukraine! Portugal will always be and will be with your independence,” Marcelo Rebelo de Souza said during the celebration of the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine’s independence in Kyiv.

To the surprise of all the guests, the military and even the president of Ukraine, the head of the Portuguese state delivered the entire speech, which lasted a little over a minute, in Ukrainian and earned several applause.

The President of the Republic added that Ukraine’s support is necessary for the future of Europe to be secure: “Without your legal protection, there will be no peace and security in Europe.”

And the future, according to the President of the Republic, will be “for the European Union and NATO.”