LIVE: Zelenskyy thanks Ireland for support during State visit

The Ukrainian president was at Áras an Uachtaráin to meet President Catherine Connolly

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukraine is grateful for Ireland’s “generosity” as he visited Dublin on Tuesday.

The Government announced €100m in non-lethal aid for Ukraine to coincide with the visit, which marks the first official visit by a Ukrainian president to Ireland.

The additional funding brings to €200 the total non-lethal military aid given to Ukraine this year.

The funding is part of a new Ireland-Ukraine partnership to be signed by Mr Zelenskyy and Taoiseach Micheál Martin on Tuesday , which builds on an agreement signed in Kyiv last year.

The 2030 Roadmap on Ukraine-Ireland Partnership sets out Ireland’s immediate commitments to Ukraine, including €25m to support the restoration and protection of Ukrainian energy infrastructure and a scheme to support training and other efforts as part of Ukraine’s path to EU accession.

Mr Zelenskyy is making his first official State visit to Ireland and will address the Oireachtas later on Tuesday. He was greeted by Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Government Buildings shortly before 12.30pm.

The Defence Forces band played the Ukrainian anthem, followed by the Irish anthem, before Mr Zelenskyy inspected the guard of honour, drawn from the 28th infantry battalion from Finner Camp in Donegal.

The Taoiseach and the Ukrainian president posed for photos before entering Government Buildings for a bilateral meeting.

A press conference will be held following the meeting ahead of Mr Zelenskyy’s address to the Oireachtas this afternoon.

Earlier, Mr Zelenskyy visited Áras an Uachtaráin, where he met President Catherine Connolly.

He signed the visitors' book at the Áras, saying it "is a great honour to visit Ireland" alongside his wife, Olena Zelenska, and to have been greeted by President Connolly.

"On behalf of the people of Ukraine, I express my sincere gratitude for Ireland's steadfast support during our fight against Russian aggression," Mr Zelenskyy said.

"We greatly appreciate Ireland's generosity in providing temporary shelter to displaced Ukrainians.

"Ukraine values its friendship with Ireland and is committed to deepening our cooperation in pursuit of a just and lasting peace."

A message left by Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the visitors’ book at Áras an Uachtaráin.

Questions on whether or not Ukraine should receive the military aid it has requested were put to the two presidents, but they did not respond before being ushered to an adjoining room.

However, Mr Zelenskyy appeared to indicate he would answer questions at a later press conference.

A statement from President Connolly's office said she and Mr Zelenskyy discussed the prospects for peace in Ukraine and the role that Ireland could play as a neutral country in securing "a fair, just and enduring peace". 

"They also discussed the contribution of the Ukrainian community in Ireland and the significant similarities in the histories of both countries. President Connolly was also interested to discuss the question of the enforced transfer of children from Ukraine and food security." 

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