Taoiseach travels to Ukraine following Zelenskyy invite 

04/07/2022Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the official reopening Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station today Pic Stephen Collins /Collins Photos

The Taoiseach is travelling to Ukraine after an invite from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

It is understood that Micheál Martin is travelling to Eastern Europe today ahead of a visit to Kyiv tomorrow.

Mr Martin was not present for Leaders’ Questions in the Dáil this afternoon.

Mr Zelenskyy addressed the Dáil and Seanad via weblink in an historic speech to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas last April. He said Ireland has supported Ukraine from the first days of the war.

The Taoiseach has been openly and consistently supportive of the Ukrainian bid for EU membership.

“Ireland is ready to walk every step of that journey with Ukraine, providing whatever support and encouragement we can along the way,” the Taoiseach has previously said.

Mr Zelensky has thanked Ireland for its “active support of Ukraine’s European aspirations”.

Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney visited Kyiv in April and met with his counterparts, Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba and defence minister Oleksii Reznikov.

He also visited the town of Bucha on the outskirts of the capital, where suspected killings of civilians prompted global condemnation.

Ireland has taken in more than 36,000 Ukrainian refugees since Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine at the end of February and has given millions of euro in humanitarian support and assistance to the country, as well as health equipment and medical donations worth over €4.5m.

 - Additional reporting from PA