Russia launched on Monday its “largest aerial assault on Ukraine” since the start of the war
Portugal’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, has condemned Russia’s latest wave of deadly attacks on Ukraine, using the occasion to reaffirm Portugal’s commitment to meeting NATO’s new 5% defence spending target.
Speaking alongside Germany’s Deputy Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during a joint press conference in Lisbon, Rangel condemned what he called “continuous and unacceptable aggressions” by the Kremlin, which on Monday launched what has been called its “largest aerial assault of its three-year war on Ukraine”.
“All attacks are unacceptable and disproportionate,” Rangel said, adding: “We will always stand on the side of international law, and that means condemning Russia and backing the efforts that Europe, the European Union, the UK, Canada, other countries, the US too and NATO, in particular, have made to support Ukraine.”
Portugal, he reminded reporters, is a firm member of the so-called “Coalition of the Willing” – a network of countries committed to supporting Ukraine in the long haul. The country also signed a bilateral security deal with President Zelensky in 2024, pledging long-term support.
Meanwhile, Portugal, a founding NATO member, is now working toward meeting the alliance’s expanded defence spending targets. That means reaching 2% of GDP in the short term – and eventually 5% under a broader investment framework outlined by NATO’s new secretary-general, Mark Rutte.
Earlier this month, Rutte wrote to NATO’s 32 member countries calling for them to reach 3.5% of GDP on “hard military spending” and 1.5% of GDP on “related spending such as infrastructure, cybersecurity and other things” over the next seven years.
“It’s also about roads, ports, and airports – dual-use infrastructure that is critical for each state and must be prepared for what tomorrow may bring,” said Rangel.
