In Dublin, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Taoiseach of Ireland Micheál Martin, during which the leaders discussed expectations from Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and priority areas of bilateral cooperation.
The Head of State thanked Ireland for its support for Ukraine throughout all the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“We know how much you value your country’s neutral status. But at the same time, during this war, you have not remained neutral in your feelings – you have clearly seen good and evil, and you are doing what is necessary to ultimately bring peace closer,” said Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The President informed the Taoiseach about ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine and weekly massive strikes. According to the Head of State, intelligence indicates that Russia is preparing another such strike tonight.
“Russia’s head is completely refusing to end the war. And although through all possible official and unofficial channels – including through people close to him – we have conveyed that the war can and must be ended, and that we in Ukraine are ready for meetings and meaningful negotiations, he sees only further aggression against Ukraine and against our neighbors and Europe as a whole,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed.
The leaders discussed additional sanctions steps against Russia that could help bring the end of the war closer.
Special attention was paid to bilateral security cooperation. The President proposed that Ireland conclude a Drone Deal with Ukraine, which would make it possible to build effective cooperation in cutting-edge technologies needed to ensure security under modern conditions.
They also discussed in detail Ukraine’s priorities during Ireland’s Presidency of the EU Council. Micheál Martin stressed that Ukraine should become a member of the European Union and that Ireland would support the opening of all negotiating clusters.
“Ukraine hopes to make further progress on the clusters: to open five more clusters and move the accession talks forward in a meaningful way. We also need to take additional steps in security cooperation. Above all, it is about the format we are now proposing – the European anti-ballistic program,” the Head of State said.
The President emphasized that Ukraine expects tangible, timely, and courageous support from partners, including the European Union.
“We will work to ensure that you receive the financial and political support that Ukraine needs to fight Russian aggression,” Micheál Martin noted.
