Portuguese PM’s Kyiv Visit Reviewed: EU Accession, Defense, and Reconstruction
During Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s visit to Kyiv, Portugal reaffirmed its strong support for Ukraine’s accelerated EU accession while advancing defense cooperation and broader bilateral ties.
The Gaze informs about it, referring to Ukrinform.
First of all, Ukraine and Portugal have agreed to deepen their strategic cooperation by launching a joint partnership on the production of naval drones as the agreement on naval unmanned systems was signed.
The Portuguese Prime Minister and Ukrainian President described maritime drones as one of the most promising areas of modern defense, particularly for protecting critical infrastructure and countering emerging threats.
Zelenskyy said the partnership reflects a shared understanding that Europe must strengthen its collective defense capabilities, emphasizing that advanced drone technologies have become a practical and effective tool in safeguarding national and regional security. Montenegro, in turn, called the agreement a concrete contribution to strengthening security across Europe.
Looking ahead, the Portuguese Prime Minister said Portugal could consider participating in ground-based security or peacekeeping operations in Ukraine after the active phase of the war ends, within the framework of NATO security guarantees. For now, he stressed, Portugal’s assistance remains focused on technological cooperation, including underwater and naval drone development.
Beyond defense cooperation, Portugal announced its first contribution of €600,000 to Ukraine’s Energy Support Fund, aimed at stabilizing the country’s power system amid continued Russian attacks. Ukrainian Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko welcomed the move, noting that the energy sector remains a priority as Ukraine enters another winter under wartime conditions.
The talks also covered broader industrial cooperation under the “Build in Ukraine” and “Build with Ukraine” initiatives, with a particular focus on joint drone manufacturing and attracting Portuguese businesses to Ukraine. The two governments agreed to explore a future intergovernmental agreement to facilitate investment ahead of upcoming international reconstruction efforts.
Portugal’s support extends beyond defense and energy. During the visit, Zelenskyy thanked Lisbon for completed reconstruction projects in the cities of Chernihiv and Cherkasy, where Portuguese-backed initiatives helped restore damaged educational infrastructure.
In addition, Portugal is ready to actively support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union at both the bilateral and European levels. Montenegro emphasized that EU accession is a demanding and complex process but stressed that Ukraine is already firmly on this path, underscoring Lisbon’s commitment to doing everything possible at the level of the European Council to facilitate Ukraine’s progress.
As The Gaze previously reported, at the 32nd meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format, Ukraine secured new long-term defense commitments from 15 partner countries, including a €10 million drone support package announced by Portugal.
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