<![CDATA[ Presidente da República considera que "é cedo para se colocar a questão" de envio de militares portugueses para a Ucrânia ]]>

The President of the Republic considered, this Tuesday, that "it is still too early to raise the issue" of a possible sending of military personnel to Ukraine and said that the Government has "a fundamental initiative" in this matter.

In response to questions from journalists, at the Belém Palace, in Lisbon, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa also said that "the sending of national forces must have the opinion of the National Defense Superior Council (CSDN)" and added: "Let's wait and see and then we'll talk."

When asked about a possible sending of Portuguese soldiers to Ukraine, the head of state and supreme commander of the Armed Forces began by responding: "It is a matter on which I cannot speak without the CSDN being consulted. We will have a meeting on March 17, but it is still too early to raise the issue."

Regarding the peace negotiations, the President of the Republic insisted that it must be "a just peace, a sustainable peace and a comprehensive peace", it cannot be "suddenly advanced and immediately failed", nor can it create "a feeling of insecurity in Ukraine".

"It is clear that it is difficult to convince allies, or former US allies - it is never clear, with this new administration - to participate in this security effort. Only Europe would participate. And it is not yet clear whether the United States [of America] would accept support, outside the borders of Ukraine's territory, in neighboring countries belonging to NATO," he noted.

As for Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa highlighted that the country has made a "contribution to security in Ukraine and neighboring countries, particularly in Romania and Slovakia", and has already expressed its willingness to, "if it were necessary, reinforce this position in neighboring countries, of course".

"Then, we have to understand whether NATO is to be taken seriously or not, because if America has reservations, in practice, regarding its involvement in Ukraine, to what extent does this strengthen NATO or weaken NATO. And then, internally, as I said, there is a competence that is a competence of the Government, with the intervention of the CSDN and, naturally, with the intervention of the President of the Republic", he added.