Portuguese president arrives in Kyiv "continuing solidarity" with Ukraine

The President of the Portuguese Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa arrived on August 23 in the Ukrainian capital at 07:30 local time (05:30 in Lisbon), for a two-day visit, which coincides with the commemoration of the 32nd anniversary of the country's independence.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa disembarked at the Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station accompanied by the Portuguese delegation, Caliber.Az reports, citing CNN.

On leaving the train, the president that he was in Kyiv to continue the Portuguese presence and solidarity with Ukraine, and to participate in the Independence Day celebrations, on August 24.

“The objective is multiple. Firstly, it is to continue the Portuguese presence. The Prime Minister has been here, the President of the Assembly of the Republic, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has been here several times, now the President of the Republic has come. It is Portugal present to show its solidarity in all domains”, maintained Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa shortly after disembarking at the Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station.

The head of state added that “everything that is fundamental – and everything is fundamental at this moment – in the life of Ukraine, is fundamental in the life of Portugal”.

The Portuguese president announced that he will participate, on August 24, in the celebrations of the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine's independence, considering that "this year is even more special", because of the association of representatives of other countries to the celebrations and why the Ukrainian counter-offensive is under way, an “assertion of its sovereignty”.