Portugal is ready to train Ukrainian military but not to provide weapons

Portugal is ready to train Ukrainian service members, but sending additional military means is not being discussed.

Defense Minister Helena Carreiras stated this at a NATO meeting in Brussels, Euractiv reports.

"At this moment, the sending of more military material is not on the table," Carreiras said.

She clarified that the issue of "offering training to Ukrainian soldiers and armed forces in Portugal" is being discussed, such as maneuvering Leopard tanks, "equipment they have and for which they need to train their soldiers," she said.

"We already have an assessment done of the type of training we can offer," the minister said.

While acknowledging that there had as yet been "no concrete request" from the Ukrainian authorities, the minister said that there was a notion that "it is a need that will arise" for them.

"If this is the decision of Ukraine—and we always work along these lines, that is, we respond according to the needs of Ukraine—his training can be provided right away," she said. "It is not, in fact, a post-war situation."

To recap, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has stated that he supports the provision of heavy weapons to Ukraine by the Allies and that more weapons are needed.

He also said alliance members would provide modern heavy weapons to Ukraine, as requested by Kyiv. Still, for that to happen, it is necessary to train Ukraine's military to use them.

"We took the measure as a matter of urgency, but these efforts require time," he said. "The transition from Soviet-era equipment to modern NATO equipment means that Ukrainians must be prepared to use them. It is a difficult and demanding transition."

The process, he explained, involves modern "artillery, long-range systems and anti-aircraft systems" that need training and maintenance.

In late May, Portugal and Ukraine signed an agreement for financial assistance of 250 million euros, "responding to the Ukrainian Government's request" at the end of a work meeting between the Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa and the Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv.

Euractiv also reported that Portugal would provide technical support to Ukraine in its EU accession process. Kyiv's European option should be welcomed "with open arms," Portuguese Prime Minister António Costa said.