Portugal’s head of State arrived in Kyiv by train early this morning
He disembarked at the Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, João Gomes Cravinho, the head of the Civil House of the Presidency, Fernando Frutuoso de Melo, ambassadors Maria Amélia Paiva and Jorge Silva Lopes, former PS leader João Soares, historian José Pacheco Pereira and businessman Luís Delgado.
According to reports, Marcelo is due to have a private meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tomorrow as well as with the Prime Minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmygal.
Minutes after leaving the train, he told reporters: “Tomorrow (Thursday) will be the day to actively participate in the celebration of Independence Day, to have meetings with President Zelenskyy, (and) with the Prime Minister.”
Later today, the Portuguese head of state will take part in a summit organised by Ukraine on the recovery of Crimea and is scheduled to “visit an institution dedicated to the extremely serious problem of Ukrainian children” separated from their families by the war and/ or orphaned.
The President of the Republic is also scheduled to visit Bucha, a town on the outskirts of the capital that was occupied by the Russian armed forces in the early days of the invasion.
Marcelo in Kyiv “to continue Portuguese solidarity”
This is the first time Marcelo has been to Kiev since the beginning of the Russian invasion. He was invited to visit the country by President Zelenskyy in May last year.
Says SIC, the president said he is in Kyiv “to continue the Portuguese presence and solidarity with Ukraine.
“The objective is multiple. Firstly, to continue the Portuguese presence. The Prime Minister has been here, the President of the Portuguese Parliament has been here, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been here several times, and now the President of the Republic has come. Portugal is here to show its solidarity in all areas,” said Marcelo.
He added that “everything that is fundamental – and everything is fundamental at the moment – in the life of Ukraine, is fundamental in the life of Portugal”.
Source: SIC Notícias
