Ukraine and Portugal sign agreement for joint drone production

Ukraine and Portugal sign agreement for joint drone production - Portugal Business News

Government of Portugal News - Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced that Portugal and Ukraine have signed an agreement for the joint production of underwater drones and the holding of an economic forum between the two countries. Luís Montenegro was speaking at a joint press conference with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, on December 20th in Kiev.

What is Portugal's Defence cooperation with Ukraine in 2026?

Portugal's Prime Minister highlighted that "Portugal and Ukraine have, in the field of unmanned vehicles, knowledge that is today at the forefront of the world" and announced the willingness to produce in Portugal "drones with Ukrainian technology and scientific knowledge" and to take national "experience and scientific knowledge" to Ukraine.

Portugal and Ukraine are committed to ensuring that the meeting marks "a turning point" in economic relations between the two countries, with a bilateral economic forum taking place in 2026: "there is a very large scope to enhance this relationship in the future," Portugal's Prime Minister argued.

What is Portugal's position on Ukrainians residing in Portugal?

Alongside Volodymyr Zelensky, Luís Montenegro made a point of thanking the nearly 80,000 Ukrainian citizens currently residing in Portugal: "They have full integration, they are now part of our economic fabric, many of them with a second generation that is also fully integrated and qualified, and they are an example of our capacity for welcoming and integration, and also an example of the contribution we can receive in strengthening our human resources," he said.

The Prime Minister is today making an official visit to the Ukrainian capital, accompanied by the Minister of National Defence, Nuno Melo, to express, on a political and human level, Portugal's solidarity with the Ukrainian people. "It is an expression of support that has been continuous since the first minute that Russia's unjustified aggression began," he stated.

This trip follows the European Council held this week in Brussels, in which European Union leaders approved a €90 billion loan to Ukraine, which will be financed through common debt issued by the EU in the financial markets and guaranteed by the Union's budget.

What are Portugal's contributions to Ukraine?

Luís Montenegro stressed that Ukraine is going through a particularly challenging time, needing financial, political and humanitarian support, and recalled that Portugal has contributed consistently, both bilaterally and within the framework of the European Union, in areas such as humanitarian aid, social support, military cooperation and political-diplomatic assistance.

What is Portugal's position on the War in Ukraine?

Portugal's Prime Minister also highlighted that, in addition to institutional support, this visit aims to convey closeness and affection to a country that "has been attacked, is being invaded and is at war," reinforcing the bond between the Portuguese and Ukrainian peoples.

In Kyiv, in addition to meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, Portugal's Prime Minister will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Yulia Svyrydenko, and with the Speaker of Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk. These meetings aim to deepen political dialogue and strengthen cooperation between Portugal and Ukraine in a context of defending sovereignty, peace, and international law.