'We need to save people': Ukrainian leaders come to Dublin to plead with EU for interceptors and air defence

Foreign affairs minister asks EU for air defence to protect its civilians

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee condemned the 'brutal escalation' in Russia’s drone and missile attacks in recent weeks and the deliberate targeting of civilians.

Ukrainian leaders came to Ireland on Wednesday to plead with the EU to help it get more air defence missiles — as Russia continues its escalating campaign of bombing civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Addressing an EU Presidency conference, Ukraine’s deputy foreign minister Mariana Betsa said: “We need to save people. This is about our survival.” 

The conference at Dublin Castle was addressed by foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee and attended by hundreds of high-level delegates from EU member states, senior European Commission officials, and candidate countries.

Ms Betsa said this week’s mass atrocity at a humanitarian aid site in Komyshuvakha, southern Ukraine, killed “more than 42 persons”, both civilians and rescue workers.

This is another despicable, horrific, terroristic attack by Russia, and the world should not get used to it. Russia has been killing Ukrainians in the middle of Europe every single day.

The conference heard 2026 was the “deadliest year for Ukrainian civilians” since the full-scale war began in 2022. 

“Between July and mid-October this year, there was not a single day without Russia attacking one of Ukraine's cities or Ukraine's energy infrastructure,” Jana Kobzova of the European Council for Foreign Relations said.

Ukraine’s foreign minister said the strategy of Russia had not changed over the years: to destroy Ukraine as a country; to dismantle and destroy the EU and Nato, and engage in hybrid warfare across Europe.

“Ukraine is fighting not only for Ukraine,” she said. “Ukraine is fighting not only even for Europe. We are literally defending democratic values and democracy versus dictatorship.” 

Ms Betsa said the attacks on energy infrastructure would have devastating consequences: “The winter will be even more harsh than last year. Russia targets our critical infrastructure, civilian infrastructure, energy. 

Russia targets hospital wards, railway stations, logistics, telecommunications — as it cannot proceed on the battlefield. Therefore, it intensifies attacks against ordinary civilians and children.

She said it was “absolutely clear” Ukraine needed more interceptors and air defence: “Without it, we will not be able to survive."

She also said Ukraine desperately needed electricity transformers, generators and repair capabilities.

Ms Betsa said unity was essential to overcoming this threat: “Because this is what Russia is afraid of — the unity of EU, the unity of Nato, and the transatlantic community.” 

In her address, Ms Kobzova said Russia was “pummelling” Ukraine’s cities: “What's being destroyed now is not just Ukraine's energy infrastructure. What we are seeing destroyed in real time is the foundations of Ukraine's economy and its potential recovery after the war ends.” 

Ms McEntee condemned the "brutal escalation" in Russia’s drone and missile attacks in recent weeks and the deliberate targeting of civilians.

She said: “We need to ensure that financial, military, and political support remain steadfast."