As preparations continue for the upcoming European Council meeting on December 18-19, 2025, which will focus on financial support to Ukraine, Luís Montenegro highlighted the importance of the meeting for “the future of Europe in the coming years”.
Regarding Ukraine, he reiterated Portugal’s stance of “support in political, military, and financial contexts from the outset”.
“This is what we continue to do with the aim of achieving a just, lasting, and sustainable peace. This involves Ukraine’s participation in decisions concerning Ukraine and Europe’s involvement in decisions concerning Europe. We have no doubt that our common security is at stake in this process”, he stated.
Montenegro praised the recent efforts which he believes might “lead to a just and lasting peace”.
“I am confident that within the Council, we might have even more news, and until then, many things might happen,” he said, committing to keep the parliament informed if there are “relevant developments” before the meeting in two weeks.
Putin’s “Provocation” to Europe Enters the Debate
During questions, Livre deputy Rui Tavares asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent claim that Russia was prepared for a war with Europe, which he deemed a “free provocation”.
Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel had already downplayed these remarks, describing them as “pressure rhetoric” over the support the European Union has provided to Ukraine in recent years.
PS deputy João Torres questioned Luís Montenegro about one financing option for Ukraine—the access to frozen Russian assets in Europe—which faces opposition from the Belgian government, yet the prime minister did not specifically address this query, only highlighting the “great convergence” between the Government and PS on matters discussed in the European Council.
Chega deputy Ricardo Dias Pinto found it “embarrassing to see the European Union begging for a seat at the most relevant negotiations, like the peace talks in Ukraine, without even having its voice heard worldwide”.
This stance prompted the prime minister to point out contradictions in the Chega party, which calls for strong and cohesive positions in Europe while advocating that Portugal should not accept everything from the European Union.
“We are talking about our security, also yours; we are talking about our values, our democracy, also yours, which allows you to be seated there and the Portuguese people to express their political will in elections,” emphasized the head of government.
Bloco de Esquerda deputy Mariana Mortágua argued that Ukraine “is being looted today”, with U.S. President Donald Trump making “a deal with Putin, the invader”, excluding Ukraine and the European Union.
“The European Union says yes sir to this looting and is even buying billions of euros in weapons from the United States”, she criticized, claiming that the 27 member states are “failing Ukraine every day on the path to peace, independence, and self-determination”.
Montenegro emphasized that both President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people “appreciate and recognize the effort of Europe, the European Union Member States, and particularly Portugal in aiding Ukraine to withstand the Russian Federation’s invasion and aggression”.
Addressing the Bloco deputy, he questioned: “Honestly, what situation and circumstance do you assume to speak on behalf of Ukraine and the Ukrainians, when their legitimate representatives speak completely differently?”.
Mortágua also sought to know if Portugal would propose debt forgiveness for Kyiv at the European Council, but received no reply.
