On November 25, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mariana Betsa held a meeting with Sérgio Sousa Pinto, President of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Portuguese Communities of the Assembly of the Republic during her visit to Portugal.

The Deputy Minister expressed gratitude to the Portuguese side for its steadfast political, diplomatic, humanitarian, and military support for Ukraine in countering Russian armed aggression. She also provided her counterpart with a detailed update on the situation at the front and the needs of Ukraine's Defense Forces.

Mariana Betsa emphasized that the aggressor’s actions aimed at further escalating military operations against Ukraine, including the involvement of North Korean military personnel and the deployment of new types of ballistic missiles, must receive a decisive and effective response from the international community.

In the context of Ukraine's foreign policy efforts, the Deputy Minister underscored that "the Peace Formula, in which our Portuguese partners are actively participating, along with the Victory Plan that will facilitate its implementation, remain the foundation of the diplomatic path toward a comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace in our country. We are confident in Ukraine's victory, but the time required to achieve it also depends on our partners’ readiness to intensify pressure on Russia and limit its ability to wage war."

Sérgio Sousa Pinto reaffirmed Portugal’s unwavering solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who are fighting not only for their sovereignty and territorial integrity but also for shared democratic values and the defense of an international order based on the norms and principles of the UN Charter. He stated that Ukraine, as the victim of aggression, has the undeniable right to determine the conditions for peace and will have Portugal's full support in this regard.

As part of her visit, Mariana Betsa also met with leaders of the Ukrainian community in Portugal. During the meeting, they discussed pressing issues of concern to Ukrainians abroad, including the operation of Ukrainian schools, advocacy for Ukraine’s interests, and the promotion of Ukrainian culture. Special attention was given to the youth and the importance of maintaining their connection to their homeland. The Deputy Minister expressed her gratitude to representatives of the Ukrainian community in Portugal for their activism, initiative, and continued support of Ukraine's national interests.

Additionally, Mariana Betsa gave an interview to Expresso, a leading Portuguese publication.