Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Irish Parliament during his official visit to Dublin on December 2. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of Ireland’s decisive stance against the aggression of the Russian Federation, highlighting both support at the voting level in the United Nations and the coverage of the Ukrainian issue in local media, as well as the activity of the Irish diaspora worldwide.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“The aggressor must be held accountable for their actions. I urge you to take an active role in establishing a tribunal for this aggression. Not just to join in, but to promote, work on, and insist that justice must begin with holding the perpetrators accountable. I ask you to continue advocating for all forms of sanctions against Russia”
Ukraine and Ireland Form a New Cooperation Format
During his address, Zelensky also called on Irish parliamentarians and the government to support the use of frozen Russian assets to finance the defense and reconstruction of Ukraine. He specifically emphasized the importance of cooperation in returning illegally exported Ukrainian children and captive citizens from Russian territory.
The President of Ukraine stressed that without achieving a just peace, Europe will remain at risk of new manifestations of violence and escalation of conflicts. He underscored that past experiences have proven the impossibility of ignoring issues of justice, and that to establish true peace, it is necessary to hold all those responsible for instigating the war accountable.
Official Visit and New Agreements
Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Ireland was the first official visit by a Ukrainian president since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. During this visit, a Roadmap for Partnership between Ukraine and Ireland for the next five years was signed, solidifying the strategic nature of relations between the states.
In Dublin, Zelensky also held talks with Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin. The head of the Irish government confirmed support for Ukraine’s intentions to become a full member of the European Union and expressed readiness to expedite the EU enlargement process during Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.