Zelensky: Simon Harris plans Ukraine visit ‘in coming weeks’

Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris has said he will visit Ukraine’s capital Kyiv “in the coming weeks”.

He made the comments after meeting the country’s president Volodymyr Zelensky at Shannon Airport on Saturday.

Mr Zelensky made a brief stop at the County Clare airport on his way back from a summit marking the 75th anniversary of Nato in Washington.

It is the leaders’ first bilateral meeting in the Republic of Ireland.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Harris said he had a “very good meeting” with President Zelensky and he was pleased to welcome him to Ireland.

Mr Harris also confirmed that the two leaders had discussed a potential bilateral agreement on demining, energy, humanitarian assistance and food security.

The taoiseach also confirmed his trip to Kyiv and that he had invited Mr Zelensky to conduct an official visit to Ireland.

The Ukrainian president was also “very eager” to address the Irish parliament, Mr Harris added.

Mr Harris also used the meeting to express his condolences for Ukrainian citizens who had died during the “brutal illegal war of Russian aggression”.

He also expressed Ireland’s full support for Ukraine’s bid towards EU membership.

Mr Harris, who became taoiseach in April, offered further Irish assistance for thousands of Ukrainian children forcibly relocated to Russia and Belarus and entered into Russian re-education programmes since the war began.

He confirmed Ireland’s membership of an international coalition for the return of the estimated 20,000 children.

Prior to the meeting, Mr Zelensky thanked the people of Ireland for its support.

“Thanks to Ireland for hosting a lot of Ukrainian refugees,” he told reporters.

“You were with us from the very beginning of the Russian invasion.”

The Irish government has provided €250m (£210m) in non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine under the European Peace Facility and the country has welcomed over 108,000 Ukrainians under the EU Temporary Protection Directive.

Irish Defence Forces members have trained 455 Ukrainian personnel in demining, battlefield casualty care and the use of non-lethal mine clearance equipment.