Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, has visited Ukraine for the first time.

As CNN Portugal reports, the leader of the Portuguese Republic alighted from the train at the railway station in Kyiv accompanied by João Gomes Cravinho, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, and other officials, as well as historian José Pacheco Pereira and businessman Luis Delgado. This is the Portuguese president’s first visit to Ukraine.

"The goal [of the visit – ed.] is multifaceted. First, to extend the Portuguese presence. The Prime Minister has been here, the President of the Assembly of the Republic has been here, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal has been here several times, and now the President has arrived. Portugal is showing its solidarity in all areas," Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said upon arrival.

The head of state added that "everything fundamental, and in the life of Ukraine everything is fundamental at the moment, is also fundamental in the life of Portugal."

Rebelo de Sousa also announced that he will take part in the celebrations marking the 32nd anniversary of Ukraine's independence on Thursday, saying that "this year is even more special" because of the participation of representatives of other countries in the celebrations, as well as because of the ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensive, which is "confirmation of its sovereignty".

Later, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visited Bucha, where he honoured the memory of the Bucha tragedy victims.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa visita a Igreja de Santo André, em Bucha. O local onde esteve uma vala comum onde foram encontrados cerca de 200 corpos. pic.twitter.com/o6uHXDZq6c

— João Porfírio (@porfiriojoao1) August 23, 2023

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda reportedly arrived in Kyiv on the morning of 23 August to participate in the celebration of Ukraine's Independence Day on 24 August.

A joint visit to Ukraine by MPs from 14 states and the European Parliament  is planned to take place on Wednesday and Thursday.