Volodymyr Zelensky is to attend the opening ceremony of Ireland’s EU presidency in Dublin on Wednesday. The Ukrainian president is scheduled to land at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel ahead of the formal ceremony and meetings with Irish political leaders. Meetings with Mr Zelensky are due to take place after the formal ceremony. A short meeting between Tánaiste Simon Harris and Mr Zelensky is also planned, where it is anticipated the Minister for Finance will tell Mr Zelensky that his and the Ukrainian people’s courage and
resilience will be a guiding inspiration to Ireland during its term. Taoiseach Micheál Martin said supporting Ukraine is an “important priority” for the term of the presidency and described the country as “part of our European family”. “In our meetings today, we will also be discussing how to increase pressure on Russia so that the cost of continuing its illegal war becomes unsustainable,” Mr Martin said ahead of the meeting. He said it was possible “in theory” that Ukraine could become a member of of
the EU while Russia’s invasion is ongoing. “It’s going to take time to progress the application,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland. “We’re doing it on a merit-based approach, just as we’re doing other applicants from the western Balkans, and so others are coming forward with ideas around association or a graduated membership. He rejected that Ireland’s support for Ukraine had been damaged by the export of alumina from the Limerick-based Aughinish Alumina refinery, amid reports that those exports are being used to supply Russian arms
manufacturers. “I don’t accept that our support has been damaged in that respect,” he said. “Europe makes two proposals, the European Commission, in respect of sanctions. We’ve been strong supporters of all sanction packages, up to 20 sanctions packages. “We do not want to, in any shape or form, be supporting the Russian war machine.” Mr Zelensky’s visit is taking place alongside that of the president of the European Council, António Costa, and ahead of the visit of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen
and EU commissioners to Cork on Thursday and Friday. It is exactly seven months since the Ukrainian president’s state visit to Ireland, when he met President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin and delivered a historic address to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas. Following the trip, Gardaí investigated reports of drones over the Irish Sea around the time Mr Zelensky’s plane landed at Dublin Airport. Defence Minister Helen McEntee later said counter-drone technology would be in place during Ireland’s EU presidency. When Ireland assumes
the presidency of the Council of the European Union, it will do so for the eighth time, having last held the role in 2013. Mr Martin and Mr Costa are due to meet to discuss priorities for Ireland’s six months in office, including the negotiations surrounding the EU’s next multi-year budget, which Ireland hopes to have agreed during this presidency. An Garda Síochana has warned that a policing and security operation is in place at Dublin Castle and will remain in place for the next
six months of Ireland’s term. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here .
Volodymyr Zelensky, Ireland EU presidency, Dublin Castle security, Casement Aerodrome Baldonnel, Simon Harris, Micheál Martin, António Costa, Ursula von der Leyen, Helen McEntee, Aughinish Alumina, sanctions, drones over Irish Sea