Zelenskiy meets President as Taoiseach announces €125m in support for Ukraine
James Cox
- Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy is due to meet Taoiseach Micheál Martin and President Catherine Connolly, and address a sitting of the joint Houses of the Oireachtas.
- His viist comes at a crucial time with the US negotiating a peace plan for the war in Ukraine.
- Tight security measures are in place for Mr Zelenskiy's visit.
- Mr Zelenskiy met French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday.
2pm
Volodymyr Zelenskiy will address a Joint Sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas at 3.45pm.
The sitting will commence with opening remarks by the Ceann Comhairle, followed by the address by president Zelenskiy.
Following concluding remarks by the Cathaoirleach, the sitting will adjourn at 4.10pm.
The Joint Address follows president Zelenskiy's previous address which was by video link in 2022.
President Zelenskiy is the first President of Ukraine to address the Oireachtas.
1.30pm
Olena Zelenska met Higher Education Minister James Lawless to discuss the 2,000 Ukrainian students in Irish third level institutions.
1pm
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has said president Zelenskiy's visit comes at a "crucial moment in this terrible war".
“President Zelenskiy’s visit comes at a critical moment in this terrible war. Almost four years on from Russia’s invasion, the Ukrainian people continue to endure devastating loss, displacement and suffering.
“Sinn Féin stands firmly with the people of Ukraine and supports their right to sovereignty, freedom and self-determination.
“This conflict has exacted a shocking human toll. Millions have been forced from their homes, entire communities devastated and far too many lives lost.”
12.31pm
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has arrived at Government Buildings in Dublin as part of his state visit to Ireland.
The Ukrainian president is due to inspect a guard of honour and, along with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, sign the 2030 roadmap on Ukraine-Ireland partnership.
The Government has described it as a “series of commitments” to “strengthen bilateral relations”. - Press Association
12.16pm
Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said Ukraine is grateful for Ireland’s “generosity” to its people amid Russia’s full-scale invasion.
The Ukrainian leader made the comments in a visitors’ book at Áras an Uachtaráin as he met President Catherine Connolly as part of an official visit to Dublin.
“It is a great honour to visit Ireland together with my wife Olena and be received by the President of Ireland,” he wrote.
“On behalf of the people of Ukraine, I express my sincere gratitude for Ireland’s steadfast support during our fight against Russian aggression.
“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 co-operation in pursuit of a just and lasting peace.”
11.40pm
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy and first lady Olena Zelenska have arrived at Áras An Uachtaráin, the official residence of President Catherine Connolly, in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.
Ms Connolly greeted the couple as they arrived at a red carpet laid at the front door, warmly welcoming them on the first day of their visit to Ireland.
11.30am
Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced an additional €125 million in financial support for Ukraine as part of a new roadmap for partnership with Ireland to cover the next five years.
At Government Buildings, the Taoiseach and president Zelenskiy will this afternoon sign the '2030 Roadmap on Ukraine-Ireland Partnership'.
This builds on the Agreement on Support for Ukraine and Cooperation between Ukraine and Ireland which was signed in Kyiv on September 4, 2024.
A series of commitments in the roadmap will strengthen bilateral relations across a range of areas, including political and security cooperation; support for Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction; cooperation in innovation and education; economic cooperation and the establishment of the Ireland Ukraine Economic Forum; and cultural cooperation.
The Roadmap sets out Ireland’s immediate commitments to Ukraine, including:
- The allocation of an additional €100 million in non-lethal military support, bringing to €200 million the non-lethal military support provided in 2025.
- The allocation of €25 million to support the restoration and protection of Ukrainian energy infrastructure and the provision of essential energy supplies.
- The previously announced allocation of €35.4 million in humanitarian assistance and stabilisation supports in 2025 in response to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
- A scheme to support training and related measures to assist in Ukraine’s path to EU accession.
The Roadmap also establishes the Ukraine - Ireland Strategic Dialogue, which holds its first meeting today between Minister Helen McEntee and foreign minister Sybiha of Ukraine.
Speaking on the signing of the Roadmap, the Taoiseach said: “It was an honour to welcome the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to Ireland at this time of great challenge for his country. His immense bravery, and the resilience of the Ukrainian people, are examples to us all.
“I am pleased that, in our meeting today, I was able to offer the president not only words of assurance of Ireland’s support, but also firm and concrete commitments of assistance to Ukraine. An additional €100 million in non-lethal military support will be made available, to help Ukraine withstand the indiscriminate nightly onslaught of Russian missiles and drones.
“Ireland will also provide €25 million for Ukraine’s energy supplies to help to counter Russia’s cynical and callous attacks on the vital infrastructure that keeps Ukrainians warm during the unforgiving winter.
“This is in addition to €35.4 million in humanitarian assistance and stabilisation supports announced earlier this year and will support projects such as the provision of meals in schools close to frontline, the reconstruction of hospital facilities and the construction of protective shelters at schools.
“I have been consistent and strong in my view that EU membership is essential for Ukraine’s future security, and today’s agreement also includes a scheme to support training and related measures to assist in Ukraine’s path to EU accession.
“Since 2022, Ireland has welcomed thousands of Ukrainians to Ireland. As I welcome their president here today, I reiterate the steadfast support of the Irish people for the people of Ukraine.”
Speaking today, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Helen McEntee said: “Today’s visit is an opportunity to reaffirm Ireland’s steadfast support and solidarity for Ukraine at a critical moment, when peace efforts are underway while Russia continues its aggression.
“In the Roadmap agreed today, the Government has committed new measures to support Ukraine. We have also agreed a framework for Ireland and Ukraine to strengthen connections in a comprehensive, innovative and forward-looking way.
“This Roadmap is being agreed in a time of war but it looks forward to a time of peace, and a time when Ukraine and Ireland live together in a common European home.”
11.10am
The former chief of staff of the Irish Defence Forces, General Sean Clancy, who is chair of the EU Military Committee has said that Europe will have a very positive role to play in the future of Ukraine.
“It's not a Nato problem. I think it's a whole of Europe problem. And it's not a problem. But if we get to that point of a peace plan and providing the security guarantees, then Europe will have a very positive role to play, as it has done so over the last nearly four years now," he told RTÉ radio's Morning Ireland.
"And primarily that will come in the form of an EU training mission in the first instance. And of course many member States have been participating in that to date. And after hopefully in a ceasefire situation, we get to a point where member states can decide at what level they want to contribute."
10.30am
In general, traffic restrictions for the visit will be kept to the minimum required and it is "intended that any impact on the public will be localised and minimal," gardaí said.
The following Traffic Management measures, for security reasons, will be put in place on Tuesday, December 2nd:
• Traffic restrictions will be in place on Chesterfield Avenue, Phoenix Park from approximately 10am until approximately 1pm.
• Traffic restrictions will be in place on Kildare Street, Merrion Street, Merrion Square and the vicinity of Government Buildings and Leinster House from 11m.
• Traffic restrictions will be in place on Stephens Green South, Stephens Green East and Leeson Street from 3.30pm.
However, the public can also expect localised road closures to facilitate events and temporary rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts over the course of Tuesday, December 2nd, in the Dublin Region, particularly in the city centre.
Volodymyr Zelenskiy is to be greeted by President Catherine Connolly in Dublin on Tuesday as US efforts continue to broker a ceasefire in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The visit comes a day after he met French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris as part of discussions on ending the largest armed conflict in Europe since the Second World War.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he looked forward to “reiterating Ireland’s unswerving commitment to standing with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes” as part of the visit on Tuesday.
Mr Martin greeted Mr Zelenskiy on the tarmac after his plane landed in Dublin late on Monday night.
The two leaders are to hold a bilateral meeting as part of events on Tuesday, which will mark the first official visit by a Ukrainian president to Ireland.
Mr Zelenskiy and Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, are due to first make a courtesy call to President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park on Tuesday morning.
Mr Zelenskiy is also due to attend the inauguration of the Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum with Tánaiste Simon Harris.
The Ukrainian leader will also give an address to the Dáil at Leinster House on Tuesday afternoon after being introduced by the Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy.
In April 2022, Mr Zelenskiy made a historic address to the Dáil via videolink, in which he said Ireland had not been neutral to the “disaster” Russia had brought to Ukraine.
Welcoming the visit, Mr Martin said Zelenskiy’s arrival in Dublin comes at a “critical time” for Ukraine.
Ukrainian and US officials have worked to revise the proposed US-authored plan, developed in negotiations between Washington and Moscow, but criticised as being too weighted towards Russian demands.
Mr Zelenskiy said in Paris on Monday that the peace plan “looks better” but that the topic of Ukraine’s control over its territories was “the most complicated” topic being discussed. - Press Association
