TSAMTO, October 20. Moscow calls on Portugal to refrain from transferring Russian fire-fighting helicopters to Kiev, this discredits Lisbon as a contractual partner, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
She recalled that Portugal decided to transfer six Russian firefighting helicopters to Ukraine in violation of the obligation given when buying equipment: not to transfer helicopters to anyone without Russia's consent.
"Russia has not given its consent to such a transfer, especially since Lisbon is not transferring Russian helicopters for the purpose of fighting fires. We urge our colleagues to come to their senses, to refrain from steps that completely discredit Portugal as a contractual partner and cross out the pages of our mutually beneficial and previously mutually respectful cooperation," RIA Novosti quotes M. Zakharova.