Montenegro attacks Rutte: "Unhappy, superficial and uninformed"

Luís Montenegro criticized NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte for suggesting that southern European countries downplay the Ukraine conflict. Montenegro emphasized Portugal's strong support for Ukraine, noting that public backing is higher than in the Netherlands. He expressed disappointment over Rutte's comments, stating they reflect a lack of understanding of Portugal's reality. Rutte had previously claimed that some southern European nations perceive the conflict as distant, which Montenegro contested, asserting that the Portuguese people are fully aware of the situation. Rutte later clarified that he was referring to public perceptions rather than political stances.