Taoiseach reiterates support for Ukraine as leaders meet ahead of Washington visits

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has reiterated Ireland’s support for Ukraine following a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Shannon Airport. 

The leaders met in County Clare this Thursday afternoon as President Zelenskyy made a stopover while traveling to Washington for his meeting with President Donald Trump. 

Speaking after the meeting, the Taoiseach said: “I had a warm and substantial meeting with President Zelenskyy. We discussed the most recent developments with regard to the situation in Ukraine ahead of the President’s meeting with President Trump. 

“I reiterated Ireland’s steadfast support for Ukraine and its people as they continue to defend themselves against Russia’s ongoing illegal and brutal aggression."  

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Mr Martin, who will travel to Washington for St Patrick's Day added that he reaffirmed Ireland’s readiness to offer practical humanitarian and financial support to Ukraine, both bilaterally and with our EU partners. 

“We discussed how, together with the EU, we can advance a just, sustainable and durable peace in Ukraine. This will be a key focus of the discussions among EU leaders at the special meeting of the European Council on March 6."

Mr Martin says he also took the opportunity to offer support for the acceleration of Ukraine’s membership of the EU. "This will be an important part of broader security guarantees for Ukraine.”