KYIV - Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro did not rule out the possibility of his country participating in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine after the conclusion of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

During a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, the visiting prime minister stated, "We do not want to be here during a war, but in the Coalition of the Willing, Portugal participates and will participate in peacekeeping operations."

He emphasized, however, that no such mission is currently being planned.

Portugal is part of the Coalition of the Willing -- a group of about 30 countries supporting Ukraine.

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Montenegro added that Portugal is already supporting Ukraine in developing underwater drones.

Zelensky said that Ukraine and Portugal had signed a partnership agreement for the production of underwater drones. Montenegro arrived in Kyiv earlier on Saturday.

Trilateral meeting

Also on Saturday, Zelensky said he generally supports the idea of a trilateral meeting involving the national security advisors of Ukraine, the United States and Russia, expressing cautious optimism about the prospect of such a meeting.

Zelensky said the proposal was put forward by the United States and conveyed to him by Ukraine's chief peace negotiator, Rustem Umerov, according to the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.

Zelensky said that he was not sure that the meeting would bring something new, but noted that the result of previous talks in Türkiye was the return of captured soldiers and civilians.

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"I am very glad that we had exchanges. Our people, our military, primarily prisoners, returned home. And civilians. And therefore we need to take such steps," he said.

Zelensky added that "if the results are exchanges or some other agreements, I cannot be against it, then we support the proposal of the United States of America. Let's see how it goes." 

He noted, however, that the most difficult issues in the ongoing peace process remain unresolved, including territorial issues, control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and funding for Ukraine's reconstruction.