“Portugal has taken the decision to request the return of the ambassador and the embassy to Kyiv as soon as conditions exist”, revealed João Gomes Cravinho as he left a meeting of EU diplomacy heads in Luxembourg.

The minister considered that this was “a very important political signal” and that “it had been requested by [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky and also by [EU High Representative Josep] Borrell, following the visit he and President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, made last Friday to Kyiv”.

“And therefore, we will resume activities in Kyvi as soon as there are conditions for that, hopefully soon,” he said.

Asked whether this will then take place within days or weeks, the head of diplomacy replied that “most likely weeks, because first an analysis of the security situation is being carried out by several countries, and by the EU itself”.

“But as soon as conditions are met, hopefully soon, our embassy will return to full function in Kyiv”, he reinforced.