Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address Oireachtas during vital visit for 'solidarity'

European leaders are rallying to show their support for Ukraine's president following US-Ukrainian talks to revise a peace proposal that initially favouring Russia

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025 - 01:00

Paul Hosford

European leaders have rallied to show support for Volodymyr Zelenskyy after US-Ukrainian talks to revise a peace proposal that initially favoured Russia.

This comes ahead of the Ukrainian president’s historic first visit to Ireland.

As the US envoy headed to Moscow to brief the Kremlin, Mr Zelenskyy was warmly received by French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday. The two joined a call with about a dozen other European leaders.

Mr Zelenskyy touched down in Dublin late on Monday ahead of a full day of engagements. He and Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska were greeted at Dublin Airport by Taoiseach Micheál Martin and junior minister with responsibility for European affairs Thomas Byrne.

Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha also forms part of the Ukrainian delegation.

The Ukrainian ambassador in Dublin, Larysa Gerasko, and Irish ambassador to Ukraine, Jonathan Conlon, were on the tarmac for their arrival shortly before 11pm.

Mr Zelenskyy was last in Ireland in February, when his plane stopped off to refuel ahead of a visit to Washington DC. Mr Martin then met the Ukrainian leader at Shannon Airport, where he emphasised the Irish people’s support for Ukraine.

The following day, a televised exchange in the Oval Office between Mr Zelenskyy, US president Donald Trump and US vice president JD Vance made international headlines.

In April 2022, Mr Zelenskyy made a historic address to the Oireachtas via video link, in which he said Ireland had not been neutral to the “disaster” Russia had brought to Ukraine.

Mr Martin said it was an honour to welcome Mr Zelenskyy to Ireland and said the visit came at a “critical time” for Ukraine.

“Around the world, he is rightly recognised as someone who embodies the courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, who have inspired the world in their brave defence of their country and its sovereignty since it was brutally and illegally invaded by Russia,” he said.

He praised Ukraine’s “remarkable tenacity” in defending their country and said he looked forward to “reiterating Ireland’s unswerving commitment to standing with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes”.

Mr Zelenskyy will meet President Catherine Connolly before addressing the Oireachtas on Tuesday.

Sources expect his speech to focus on the need for Europe to support Ukrainian sovereignty, and that Russia is made to pay for the rebuilding of Ukraine if and when a peace deal is agreed.

Mr Zelenskyy told a joint press conference with Mr Macron on Monday that Kyiv’s priorities in peace talks were to maintain sovereignty, to ensure strong security guarantees, and that territorial disputes remained the most complicated.

Decisions on territories

He called on Ukraine’s Western allies to ensure Russia was not rewarded for the war it started. He said he hoped to hold talks with Mr Trump after the US president's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had visited Russia this week.

Mr Macron said only Ukraine could decide on its territories in peace negotiations with Russia.

Earlier, Mr Zelenskyy made clear that Ukrainian and US negotiators had not yet fully hammered out revisions to the proposed US plan — despite two rounds of talks to adjust terms that initially endorsed Russia’s main wartime demands.

There were “some tough issues that still have to be worked through”, Mr Zelenskyy posted following Sunday’s US-Ukrainian talks at a Florida luxury golf resort built by Mr Trump’s fellow real estate magnate Mr Witkoff.

The Irish visit will come amid tight security, with checks of Leinster House, Government Buildings, and the surrounding areas being carried out throughout Monday and a no-fly zone for drones implemented around Dublin.

'Excellent contribution to our economy'

Tánaiste Simon Harris said he was “really pleased” Mr Zelenskyy was coming to Ireland.

“This is an important visit,” he said. “It’s an important visit for the people of Ireland to show solidarity with Ukraine, solidarity that we’ve shown really since the beginning.

“A solidarity the towns and villages right across our country have shown in welcoming so many people from Ukraine into their schools, into their homes. In many cases, people from Ukraine who are making a really excellent contribution to our own economy here.

“But it’s also a chance, as we prepare to take up the presidency of the Council of the EU next year, to get the latest from president Zelenskyy in terms of how he sees things progressing. We need to see peace. We all want to see an end to war. But how peace comes about matters.

“It has to be a just peace. It has to be a lasting peace, an enduring peace, and it has to be a peace that doesn’t reward aggression.”

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee will bring two proposals to the Government, first asking for approval in an International Claims Commission for Ukraine. The commission will be responsible for determining claims for damage, loss, or injury caused by internationally wrongful acts committed by Russia against Ukraine.

The minister will also bring a 2030 Ireland-Ukraine roadmap, which includes the approval of an additional €100m for the provision of non-lethal military support for Ukraine and a contribution of €25m for Ukraine’s urgent energy needs.