Government Portugal has handed over six Russian Kamov Ka-32A11B helicopters to Ukraine. On Saturday Portuguese television RTPquoting Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, said that the Kremlin threatened Portugal with retaliation for this step. Lisbon purchased the machines from Russia in 2006. They were primarily used to extinguish fires.
Kremlin Threatens Portugal. Zakharova: Russia Is Analyzing Retaliatory Measures
Zakharova described Lisbon's action against Ukraine as a “hostile step”. “We perceive the delivery of Kamov helicopters to Ukraine as a hostile move against our country. This action is part of Portugal and other EU countries' obedient and unconscious following of the path designed by Washington,” the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said. She added that the Kremlin was analyzing retaliatory measures against Portugal and “everyone will know when they come into effect.” “We remember these actions when defining bilateral relations. As everyone knows, we have a good memory, although we are not vindictive,” she emphasized. The helicopters were to be sent to Ukraine by road.
UK and US reject Ukrainian missile attacks on Russian soil
Meanwhile, from the last information It turns out that Great Britain and the USA did not agree to Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using long-range missiles. Such news was conveyed by the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. – I think they are afraid of escalation of the conflict – added the Ukrainian leader. Signals about the possible consent of the West to Ukraine's attacks on targets on Russian territory caused Vladimir Putin to assess that such a decision would mean “direct participation” NATO in the war.
Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the United States next week. The Ukrainian president stressed that he hopes that during the talks Joe Biden may change its mind on the issue of consent to the use of weapons on Russian soil. He noted that this is an “important decision” and a “historic mission” for Ukraine. On Thursday, the European Parliament called on EU countries to lift the ban on the use of Western long-range weapons by Ukraine on Russian soil. MEPs adopted a resolution on this matter at a plenary session in Strasbourg.