Dear Micheál, Taoiseach, distinguished participants, Micheál’s team, esteemed journalists, and everyone present,
First of all, I want to thank you – I truly want to thank your country and your people, of course, for the way you treat our people. And throughout all the years of the war, it has been consistent assistance and consistent support. Of course, I understand that this is a matter of will – both political will and such a human, very human attitude shown by your citizens toward ours. I am grateful for this, and we will never forget it. 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. Micheál spoke about this now as well, and we discussed it during our bilateral meeting: ending the war is the priority. And even if Russia does not yet see this as its priority, we will be able to make it do so – without a doubt. Today, on the day your Presidency of the European Union begins, we can be confident that over the next six months, the European Union will also maintain a very clear and consistent position – a position in support of Ukraine and our efforts to protect lives. This matters every single day – without exaggeration, every day. Russia strikes Ukraine constantly: today, throughout the day, there have been attacks across Ukraine, and unfortunately, people have been killed. Once every week or two, there are massive attacks involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles of various types. Today, we have information – very troubling information – about preparations for another massive Russian strike: we have relevant intelligence data. And immediately after our press conference, after this conversation, I am returning to Ukraine very quickly with my team. Today, I urgently ask our people to be especially careful – stay safe and protect your children, protect your families, be sure to take shelter and pay attention to air-raid alerts in Ukraine. This is extremely important. We know that Putin has been preparing this massive strike against Ukraine for some time. It is not the first one. That is exactly the threat we are facing 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. It is essential to protect life, to support defense efforts, and to respond appropriately to every threat. I am grateful to every one of our partners – all leaders and all countries that are helping us.
Of course, today and in the coming days, our air defense forces and other warriors will do everything they can. I have already issued the necessary instructions to the military, the Minister of Internal Affairs, special services, and intelligence agencies. But we all need to understand who we are dealing with and the level of baseness with which Russia continues this war. Russia must be placed in a situation where, apart from peace, it has no other option. We very much hope that support from our partners – in particular from the EU – will remain tangible, timely, and courageous. Over the past six months, significant steps have been taken: there is already a financial support package for Ukraine from the European Union, the 20th sanctions package against Russia for this war has been adopted, and – as we discussed today with the Taoiseach – a new package is being prepared, which we are counting on. Our agreements on defense cooperation with European countries are also being implemented, including joint production. We are coordinating our diplomacy so that Europe has its own voice in negotiations on ending the war – this is essential, in our view – as well as on security guarantees. We are also moving towards Ukraine’s accession to the EU: the first negotiating cluster has been opened, and we see Ukraine’s EU membership precisely as a security objective both for Europe and for us.
Over the next six months – the period of Ireland’s Presidency – we are confident it will be a successful one. We sincerely wish that for you, and for ourselves as well, because we are counting on a positive outcome. 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. And of course, when we talk about security, this is not just about Ukraine. It is about Europe's security. Above all, it is about the format we are now proposing – the European anti-ballistic program, so that our Europe has adequate protection against the most dangerous types of missiles. Today, we began discussions with Ireland on cooperation in the field of drones and new technologies. We are proposing a Drone Deal and the relevant technologies. It would enable direct and effective cooperation between our industries and companies, and we very much hope Ireland will look favorably on these opportunities for future cooperation. This is about the security of our skies. It is about the security of our seas.
We also discussed additional sanctions steps against Russia that could help bring the end of this war closer. Right now, Russia is capable of only one thing – killing. Russia’s economy is no longer strong. And after all its crimes, its strikes, and its historic mistakes, Russia has, so to speak, no face left to save. The only thing we need from Russia now is for it to end this war and its abuse of human life. European unity – and ideally unity between Europe and the United States, and all partners – along with real, tangible pressure on Russia for this war, are the tools that can bring peace. We are grateful that the European Union stands with us in this work, in this struggle for peace and for the defense of Ukraine’s independence, our national rights, and the lives of our people. Life must always prevail. Life will prevail for sure. I am grateful for every result we have already achieved, and for everything we will achieve going forward.
Thank you, Ireland, for your comprehensive support and for the invitation. I wish you peace and success.
Glory to Ukraine.
