The President of the Republic reiterated this Saturday that the country is doing everything to help Ukraine, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled Portugal as one of the countries that could do more.
“I understand that those who, like President Zelensky, are experiencing a war always want more: more weapons, more military resources and more support. In this context, there are countries much richer and closer than Portugal that can give more than we have given, and we have been giving everything we can and even, in many cases, things we didn’t expect to be able to give”declared Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
The head of state spoke to journalists on the sidelines of the 12th congress of the Public Ministry Magistrates’ Union (SMMP), in Vilamoura, to reinforce the limited availability of military means that can make a difference in the war with Russia.
“We understand that we are doing all that is possible under the circumstances, that is, at the political and diplomatic level, everything that is within our power; at the military level: within our availabilities. can provide these capabilities, we can within our limits. In terms of reception, our position is very simple: anyone who wants to come is welcome”noted.
Thanking the Portuguese for their receptivity to welcoming Ukrainian refugees, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also refused to comment on the words of his American counterpart, Joe Biden, who described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “a butcher”.
“I will not comment on the statements made by the Allied President about the President of the aggressor country. It is not my job, but I consider it positive that President Biden is committing himself in the way he is committing himself, coming to the NATO summit, being with the European leaders, visiting Poland and being there by the NATO border. There is nothing like seeing the humanitarian phenomenon of refugees to get a sense of the seriousness of the situation”he concluded.
On February 24, Russia launched a military offensive in Ukraine that killed at least 1,081 civilians, including 93 children, and injured 1,707, including 120 minors, and caused the flight of 10 million people. , of which 3.7 million went to neighboring countries, according to the latest UN data, which warns that the real number of civilian casualties is much higher.
According to the United Nations, around 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance in Ukraine.
The Russian invasion was condemned by the international community in general, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and reinforcing economic and political sanctions on Moscow.