Statement by the President of Ukraine During Joint Press Conference With the Prime Minister of Ireland

Micheál, Mr. Taoiseach!

Distinguished participants, our teams.

Dear journalists!

Dear Ireland!

Today marks the first official visit – as Micheál said, and that is a fact – the first official visit of the President of Ukraine to Ireland since diplomatic relations were established between our countries. And right away, it is a visit during one of the most challenging yet simultaneously optimistic moments. Now, more than ever, there is a chance to end this war.

Right here in Ireland, our delegation, which had been meeting in the United States with the U.S. President's team, gathered this morning. There are currently 20 points that were drafted in Geneva and refined in Florida. Some matters still need to be addressed, from what I’ve seen. The United States is taking serious steps to put an end to the war one way or another, and our task – and I am confident it is a shared task for all of Europe – is to truly end the war, not just to achieve a pause in hostilities. We need a dignified peace, and for this to truly happen, absolutely everyone must stand on the side of peace. Everyone in Europe and all nations that value peace. Ireland is a neutral country, but certainly not an indifferent one. We are grateful. You are helping us, and we value it. We value it greatly. And Ireland’s influence truly matters, because it is the influence of a large – global – community. May that influence of yours always work in a way that is just.

Today, I briefed Micheál and his team on the negotiations and on our current prospects. Thank you for your support. We also discussed in detail today our entire bilateral agenda. This concerns our resilience. Ireland provides support – energy assistance, as well as a humanitarian aid package – and we are very grateful for all of this. We approved the Roadmap on Partnership between our countries – Ukraine and Ireland – for at least the next five years. We hope that during this period, Ukraine will already be a member of the European Union, and we are thankful to you for your support along this path. We appreciate that Ireland always approaches issues of pressure on Russia honestly and with principle, and primarily these are issues of sanctions and sanctions policy. Sanctions must remain in force as long as the Russian occupation continues and as long as Russians continue tormenting our people, Ukrainians. Today, we also discussed the stance on frozen Russian assets – it is high time to direct them to Ukraine so that we can reliably ensure everything: our defense and our recovery. And this will benefit not only us but also our partners, as we will place more orders with the countries that help us. We hope that Ireland, not only on its own but together with all who listen to Ireland in the world, will support the need to hold Russia accountable – accountable for everything they have done, accountable for this aggression. Work is now ongoing on the continent to create a tribunal that can punish Russia for the crime of aggression and for all war crimes. I ask you to engage more actively in joint efforts to ensure legal accountability for Russia and its accomplices.

Of course, we also have a large scope of humanitarian and cultural cooperation. Accompanying me on this visit is the First Lady of Ukraine. Olena is expanding the Coalition of Ukrainian Studies. This will be a global coalition, and we invite Ireland to be a part of it. Today, three Irish universities joined our Coalition of Ukrainian Studies – we are grateful to you for this. And of course, I want to thank separately the Government of Ireland, all, absolutely all the communities of Ireland, every Irish household that has hosted our people. It is not easy – after all, this is nearly four years of full-scale war, such a challenge. But we are doing everything so that our people can safely return home – to a country of peace. We are working for this. I believe we can achieve it; I very much want this. I thank you for your respect shown to our people, for your respect shown to Ukraine, and for the fact that Ireland stands with us not just for political reasons, but because Ireland truly defends the right of nations to live free and independent lives. Thank you once again!

Glory to Ukraine!