Wicklow, Ireland, Sept. 3, 2026 (Lusa) - The minister of foreign affairs has stated that the Government is working with Ukraine to identify Portuguese companies with unused power-generating equipment that could be donated to Kyiv to help it cope with the winter.
Paulo Rangel made this announcement in comments to the Lusa news agency after meeting with Ukraine's minister of foreign affairs, Andrii Sybiha, in Wicklow, Ireland, on Wednesday, on the sidelines of the informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU).
The Portuguese minister of foreign affairs noted that, at that meeting, the Government expressed its willingness to assist Ukraine in the energy sector not only through funding but also by supplying equipment.
Specifically, Rangel indicated that Ukraine and Portugal have already identified a number of companies that «can supply certain energy-related equipment used for electricity generation», which is currently not in use in the country but remains in the possession of the state or national companies.
«For example, in coal-fired power stations that have already been decommissioned, there are many parts and materials that could be very important for energy production in Ukraine,» he pointed out, emphasising that the aim is to provide «support in kind and to mobilise certain companies operating in the energy sector».
These companies could «cooperate or work directly with the Ukrainian state, whether in addressing material shortages or even in providing alternative solutions», he said.
Rangel stated that this aid will be important because, as he discussed with Andrii Sybiha, the prospects of a peace agreement or a ceasefire in the near future «are really very low».
«This is also an assessment that was discussed there and, therefore, the conflict will continue; as such, it is obviously essential to prepare for the winter season, and energy resilience plays an important role in this,» he argued, noting that the EU estimates that «half of Ukraine's electricity capacity» has been destroyed in attacks over recent months.
Rangel also added that, in addition to this equipment which may be supplied, Portugal has already announced that it will increase its contribution to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, which enables Kyiv to «purchase generators and other types of equipment to ensure the continuity of the electricity sector».
As for the request made by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, for allies to supply more interceptor missiles to bolster the country's air defences, Rangel acknowledged that, in this regard, Portugal does not have the capacity to help.
«Our capacity in this area is very limited and, therefore, we clearly have no role to play there, apart from financial contributions, for example, which currently total €100 million for the PURL,» the NATO programme through which the Allies coordinate the procurement of armaments for Ukraine, he said.
Russia has been targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure throughout the war, which has now lasted more than four years, and tends to do so particularly in winter, affecting the heating supplies of millions of Ukrainians in a region where the cold is severe.
According to UN data, Russian bombardments of this infrastructure are concentrated mainly in the months between April and October, when the weather turns colder, and have increased exponentially this year.
Ukraine has been relying on financial and military aid from its Western allies since Russia invaded the country on 24 February 2022.
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