Raimundo criticized Macron’s “unfortunate statement” about the possible sending of troops to the war in Ukraine

French President Emmanuel Macron made an “unfortunate statement” by acknowledging the possible deployment of European troops to war in Ukraine, reiterating the urgency of moving towards peace, the PKP secretary-general said on Tuesday.

“I think this is an unfortunate statement from Macron at a time when what is needed is what is in plain sight: an end to the war. A war that should never have started. And the best way we can help mitigate the death and destruction of young Ukrainians in particular is by not sending young men from the world’s various armies into a war that should never have started,” he said.

Speaking to journalists before a rally of the CDU (United Democratic Coalition, uniting PCP and PEV) in Almada, the communist leader, on the other hand, was satisfied that such a possibility had been ruled out by several countries in the meantime.

“This was rejected by a group of European leaders, including the Prime Minister of Portugal – and well. I don’t think this is an adequate alternative, quite the opposite. Ask the fathers and mothers of this country if they want to see children go to war that should never have started, and what needs to be done now is to open the path to negotiated peace, which is extremely important to do at this moment,” he said .

Also hinting at the upcoming 50th anniversary of April 25, Paulo Raimundo recalled that the 1974 revolution ended the colonial war and now this date cannot be associated with another conflict, for example, in Ukraine.

“We do not want to return to the suffering that still exists among those who fought in the war, in particular former combatants, who are certainly the last people who want to hear about war and more deaths in a war that should never have happened . has begun,” he stressed.

Faced with the position expressed by the leader of the PAN, Inés Sousa Real, who today defended in an electoral initiative that the PCP would have to take a different position regarding the war in Ukraine, the communist leader admitted that he did not understand the observation. “If there is one thing that is very clear to us, it is our position, as always. What we need now is a political solution to the conflict,” he emphasized.

Regarding the European Union’s commitment to increase defense investment to 2% of national budgets, the PKP Secretary General did not speak out directly, again insisting on investment in finding a solution to end the conflict on Ukrainian soil, rather than in weapons that could lead to an escalation of the war.

“All humanitarian support for reconstruction and refugees is not only important, but fundamental. Anything that supports the continuation of war and escalation of war, do not count on PKP. Don’t drag us down the path. Not today, not two years ago, not 10 years ago, that’s how long, unfortunately, this war has lasted,” he concluded.