Ukraine asks Lisbon to cut diplomatic relations with Russia

Ukraine’s ambassador in Portugal asked on Monday for the Portuguese government’s support in the country’s accession to the European Union and consider breaking off relations with Russia thanking the sanctions and military assistance.

“The sanctions introduced by the European Union, including Portugal, are very effective in the area of the economy,” said the Ukrainian ambassador to Portugal, Inna Ohnivets, also highlighting the ban on Russian companies in European airspace: “These measures affect Russia’s economy, and this may help Russia to consider that it is necessary to stop the war against Ukraine.”

At a joint press conference with the mayor of Lisbon, Carlos Moedas, to present a set of measures to support Ukrainian families in the Portuguese capital, Inna Ohnivets asked for Portugal’s support for the initiative announced by the president of Ukraine to join the European Union.

“We would also like to ask, to consider, the possibility of breaking relations between Portugal and the Russian Federation. This measure is very harsh, but it is fair because currently, we have the situation when the Russian occupiers kill. They are killing the Ukrainians in our country. Already 16 children have died,” the Ukrainian ambassador said.

The Ukrainian diplomat thanked Portugal for its help in providing military assistance and materials, saying that “this is a strong signal” to the Ukrainian people.

“Inna Ohnivets said that the Ukrainian army was fighting “very well”, but that help from the European Union was also needed.