Portugal is available to train Ukrainian military

The Portuguese Armed Forces are available to train Ukrainian troops in Portugal on demining and deactivating explosives, claimed the Minister of National Defence Helena Carreiras in Brussels, on the side of a NATO Defence Ministers meeting to prepare the upcoming summit in Madrid. 

Helena Carreiras noted that "this is a need of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" as the Russian aggression on Ukrainian soil continues.

The Minister added that it will also be possible to offer training, for instance, to operate Leopard combat vehicles, "which is equipment they have and on which their soldiers need training". 

"Should Ukraine decide this, and we always respond to Ukraine’s needs, this training can be offered at once", Helena Carreiras further stated. 

Before this, the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had stated that "the transition of equipment from the Soviet age to modern NATO equipment means that the Ukrainian soldiers must be prepared to use them", which requires time and training.

The Minister recalled that Portugal has already supplied "lethal and non-lethal military material, equipment, ammunition, weaponry, as well as communications and sanitation material" and has responded to the requests made, such as first aid kits. She also reiterated that the Armed Forces hospitals are ready to "accept injured Ukrainians".