In Kyiv, Ukraine’s Minister of Defence, Denys Shmyhal, held talks with Portugal’s Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo.

The talks took place during the meeting between the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and a delegation headed by Portugal’s Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, during which a statement on a partnership to produce maritime drones was signed.

Denys Shmyhal thanked the Portuguese delegation for its visit to the Ukrainian capital during this critical period. He expressed gratitude to Portugal for the assistance announced at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting and for its readiness to contribute €50 million to the PURL mechanism.

He further underscored the importance of Portugal’s decision to commit €25 million per year for five years under the SAFE initiative to procure Ukrainian defence products.

“We discussed the continuation of cooperation, particularly in the defence industry, as well as the prospects for mutually beneficial projects and the long-term development of our capabilities. We also focused on Ukraine’s critical defence needs to protect people and critical infrastructure. I am grateful to Portugal for its support,” Denys Shmyhal concluded.