For Zelenskyy, a trip abroad is never a relief from the problems in Ukraine

While Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke in Dublin about hope and the future, it was hard to ignore events elsewhere.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy inspects the guard of honour at Government Buildings in Dublin. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA

The sunflower, aside from being the national flower of Ukraine, is a symbol of hope.

That there were sunflowers in vases around both Government Buildings and Leinster House for the visit of Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke as much to the latter as the former, though while Mr Zelenskyy spoke at length throughout his day in Dublin about his hopes for a free and peaceful Ukraine, the pressure he is under cannot be discounted.