The Taoiseach has said President Zelenskyy was “appreciative” of his offer to send Irish troops to Ukraine if there’s a peace deal.
The two met for a bilateral meeting at Shannon Airport, where the Ukrainian President touched down on his way to visit the United States.
Speaking after the meeting, Micheál Martin said they discussed what support Ireland can offer Kyiv in the future.
“Everything will depend on how things unfold and I made him aware that Ireland is open to helping in anyway that we possibly can - including in a peacekeeping role,” he said.
“But as he said, there’s time for that yet but he was appreciative of that.
“Obviously, a lot will be determined by the nature of agreements - if they happen.”
I met with Taoiseach @MichealMartinTD of Ireland. Ukraine deeply appreciates the support and assistance of the Irish people and government, as well as everything they have provided to help strengthen our defense against Russian terror.
We discussed steps toward ending the war… pic.twitter.com/8yzVIiInA6
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 27, 2025
Speaking at Shannon, President Zelenskyy said any peace agreement would need to be sustainable.
“Without future security guarantees, we will not have a really just peace,” he said.
“And we will not have a real ceasefire - what Trump has spoken about.
“And if we don’t have it, nothing will work.”
Warm and substantial meeting with President Zelenskyy in Shannon.
I reiterated Ireland’s steadfast support and readiness to offer humanitarian and financial support.
We discussed how, together with the EU, we can advance a just, sustainable and durable peace in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/mPKUvFtXJ3
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 27, 2025
Ireland currently does not provide lethal aid to Ukraine.
However, Mr Martin said he would consider funding drones to help with the evacuation of wounded soldiers from the battlefield.
“There’s also, interestingly and unfortunately in a time of war, significant innovation on the way,” he said.
“They were explaining to us how they’ve developed robotic ground drones to evacuate their injured from the frontline.
“I think that is technology that we can support financially.”
Дорогою до Сполучених Штатів Америки Президент України Володимир Зеленський у Шенноні провів зустріч із Прем’єр-міністром Ірландії Мікхолом Мартіном.
Подробиці: https://t.co/Qq6DiWNS4i pic.twitter.com/NKH0CNRtzt
— Офіс Президента (@APUkraine) February 27, 2025
President Zelenskyy is now due to meet Trump in Washington, despite the US President falsely describing him as a “dictator” who “started” the conflict with Moscow.
The second Trump Presidency has led many in Europe to question transatlantic ties but Mr Martin insisted the American Head of State was still an “ally of peace”.
“I just noted the very warm engagement he had with President Macron earlier this week,” he said.
“He visited Notre Dame, Vice President JD Vance was in Paris at the AI summit that President Macron hosted - I was there too.
“There’s a lot of engagement going on.”
The Russian-Ukraine War is now in its third year.
Main image: Zelenskyy and Martin at Shannon Airport. Picture by: Ukraine's Office of the President/X.
