Portugal will support the reconstruction of Ukraine and help build international support towards Ukraine’s victory. This was discussed during a meeting between President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and First Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Economy of Ukraine Yuliia Svyrydenko.
The meeting was held in BrasÃlia, the capital of Brazil, where the Ukrainian delegation headed by Yuliia Svyrydenko took part in the inauguration ceremony of President of the Federative Republic of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
“We feel the sincerity and completeness of Portugal’s assistance to Ukraine. This conversation has further elaborated the agreements discussed during the meeting of Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska in Lisbon, as well as during the visit of Prime Minister António Costa to Kyiv. Portugal will help in the reconstruction of educational facilities in Ukraine. We are also grateful for the assistance in strengthening our cooperation with the Portuguese-speaking community around the world. I am grateful to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa for his personal engagement and diplomatic efforts in achieving victory and peace.
We are convinced that economic and political cooperation with Portugal will only grow stronger. For good reason we count on assistance in our country’s movement towards the European Union and on Portugal’s participation in the restoration of Ukraine,†Yuliia Svyrydenko noted.
President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa reaffirmed full solidarity with Ukraine and readiness to expand cooperation.
During the meeting, the parties discussed issues of cooperation in the economic sphere, the situation in Ukraine, in particular in connection with the missile attacks on the energy infrastructure, practical issues of restoration, etc.
For reference
In 2021, exports of Ukrainian goods to Portugal, according to the State Statistics Service, amounted to USD 341 million 202 thousand, an increase of more than 45% compared to the previous year. Imports from Portugal to Ukraine amounted to USD 88 million 770 thousand (growth of more than 30%).
Since the beginning of the large-scale invasion, Portugal has provided significant assistance to Ukraine, including humanitarian aid. It has received more than 50,000 Ukrainians who were forced to leave Ukraine. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa personally met the first planes with Ukrainian refugees. The Government of Portugal has decided to take part in the restoration of educational facilities in Zhytomyr region.
Polls indicate that the level of support for Ukraine’s accession to the EU in the Portuguese society reaches 87%.
