Zelensky Urges Portugal to Boost Joint Military Manufacturing and Support Energy Sector

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with his Portuguese counterpart, António José Seguro, in the Spanish capital, Madrid, on the sidelines of the Ibero-American Summit, in a meeting focused on ways to bolster defense capabilities and support Ukrainian infrastructure amid rapid developments on the ground.

Energy Support and Joint Military Production

During the meeting, Zelensky expressed his country's desire to build a closer partnership with Portugal in defense manufacturing. He explained via his account on the "X" platform that he discussed with the Portuguese president mechanisms for Lisbon's contribution to supporting the energy system and saving lives in Ukraine, as well as exploring available opportunities for the joint production of weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian president also noted that the Portuguese president offered him, on behalf of the Portuguese state, condolences for the 43 deaths recorded so far as a result of Russian shelling that hit a school in the town of Komyshuvakha, located in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Lisbon's Stance and Defense Cooperation

For its part, the Portuguese presidency stated on its official website that the meeting was held at the request of the Ukrainian president, confirming that Seguro reiterated Portugal's continuous support for Kyiv. The Portuguese president also expressed his hope that the peace talks expected to resume soon would lead to an end to the war, based on a just settlement ensuring lasting peace in accordance with the principles of international law and respecting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Portugal has actively participated in supporting Ukraine since the outbreak of the war following the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Its defense contribution is particularly evident in the manufacturing and export of drones, with sales of these systems to Kyiv reaching approximately 87 million euros in the past year alone.