Ukraine PM wants Portuguese companies to help rebuild country after war

The prime minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmygal, on Wednesday called on Portuguese companies to invest in the country to help rebuild after the war.

Shmygal held a meeting today with the speaker of the Portuguese parliament, Augusto Santos Silva, with whom he discussed the future reconstruction operation of a country devastated by the effects of the Russian invasion.

“I invited Portuguese companies to invest in our country now, because the recovery of Ukraine will be the biggest project since World War II,” said Shmygal, who said he expected Lisbon’s support for the “European integration of Ukraine and for the aspirations of a Euro-Atlantic integration.”

The Ukrainian head of government also expressed gratitude to the Portuguese authorities for financial, humanitarian and sanctions support against Russia.

“We appreciate the prompt transfer of weapons and equipment, as well as the training of our Army,” Shmygal said.

Santos Silva – who is leading a Portuguese parliamentary delegation visiting Kiev – highlighted Lisbon’s willingness to support the enlargement of the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine with the inclusion of African and Latin American nations that may somehow feel more distant from the conflict in eastern Europe.

The military offensive launched on 24 February 2022 by Russia in Ukraine has so far caused the flight of more than 14.6 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced and more than 8.1 million to European countries – according to the latest figures from the UN, which ranks this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).

At least 18 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million need food aid and accommodation.

The Russian invasion – justified by Russian President Vladimir Putin with the need to “denazify” and demilitarise Ukraine for Russia’s security – has been condemned by the international community at large, which has responded by sending arms to Ukraine and imposing political and economic sanctions on Russia.

The UN has reported 8,709 confirmed civilian deaths and 14,666 injured since the beginning of the war, stressing that these figures are far from the real ones.