Taoiseach reaffirms Ireland’s support for Ukraine during call with Zelenskyy

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky gives a press conference in Kyiv, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. Picture: Tetiana Dzhafarova/Pool Photo via AP

The Taoiseach has told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ireland backs proposals to speed up Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

Micheál Martin made the pledge to Mr Zelenskyy in a call with the Ukrainian president.

In a statement following the call, Mr Martin said that the engagement with Mr Zelenskyy was “warm” and that he had “reaffirmed Ireland’s steadfast support for Ukraine and its people”.

“We discussed how, together with the EU, we can advance a just, sustainable and durable peace in Ukraine.

“I also took the opportunity to offer my support for the acceleration of Ukraine’s membership of the EU, and to state Ireland’s continuing financial support for Ukraine.” 

Mr Martin said that he would be joining an online summit with other world leaders next week to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

It is the first call between the two leaders since Mr Martin returned to the Taoiseach’s office last month.

In recent days, the Taoiseach indicated to EU leaders that Ireland is prepared to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a ceasefire is secured.

Any peacekeeping force would need to be under an international mandate based on UN principles, Mr Martin is said to have told a virtual meeting of EU leaders earlier this week.

The Taoiseach previously visited Ukraine in July 2022, just months after the invasion began.