This Monday, the Prime Minister compared Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to Indonesia’s occupation of Timor-Leste, saying he hoped international law would “prevail” on Ukrainian soil and dismissing “scenarios” of NATO countries sending troops.
“In fact, we Portuguese have good reason to understand the importance of protecting, even in the most difficult circumstances, the rule of international law. We all remember that for many years Timor-Leste was territory illegally occupied by Indonesia. and there were moments when Portugal was alone on the international stage, fighting for the right of the people of Timor-Leste to self-determination”, but “when many already believed that this was impossible, the truth is that international law prevailed and this is the best demonstration that international law is the great weapon of small countries and peoples who want to be free and live in peace,” said António Costa.
Speaking to the Portuguese press in Paris, after attending a high-level meeting on continued support for Ukraine, convened by French President Emmanuel Macron and marking the second anniversary of the Russian invasion, the head of the Portuguese government compared: “In defending the preservation and Ukraine’s first international law is that We ensure our own security in the future.”
After his Slovak counterpart Robert Fico said that some Western countries were considering bilateral agreements to send troops to Ukraine, Antonio Costa assured that “there is no scenario in which this issue could arise.”
“I don’t even see any NATO country [Organização do Tratado do Atlântico Norte] needs to be done, and above all, these are decisions that, if they are made, will have to be made collectively, because in the Collective Defense Alliance, creating risks is also in the common interest of everyone, but that was not the topic” at this meeting. meeting in Paris, he added.
Regarding the statements of Emmanuel Macron, who said at the beginning of the high-level meeting that international leaders, including from the European Union, must prepare “for a Russian attack” on these countries and therefore must “do more” to support Ukraine to win the war , Antonio Costa stressed that “now is not the time to speculate.”
“We must prepare for various risks, but with great determination and awareness that the way we have been able to demonstrate today our ability to support the extraordinary efforts of the Ukrainian people in their own defense, in the defense of international law, is the best defense we will say for ourselves in future,” he concluded.
Two days after marking two years since Russia invaded Ukraine, and as Ukraine faces the risk of running out of liquidity in late March, French President Emmanuel Macron convened a high-level meeting in Paris to review available funds. strengthen cooperation between partners in support of Ukraine.
The event brought together 27 leaders or representatives from the European Union and other countries to analyze how to strengthen cooperation between partners supporting Ukraine.
According to António Costa, at this meeting a “consensus” was reached on “increasing support, be it financial or material support, to support Ukraine’s military efforts.”
The Russian military offensive into Ukraine, launched on February 24, 2022, has plunged Europe into its most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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