Zelensky thanks Ireland for support as Dublin opens EU presidency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Ireland for its support as he spoke at the opening ceremony of the country's EU presidency in Dublin Castle. He said Ireland had stood by Ukraine and its people from the "very beginning" of Russia's invasion. The address came as Ireland formally began a six-month presidency of the Council of the EU.

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Mr Zelensky congratulated Ireland on taking up the role and said it carried a particular responsibility at a time of war in Europe. He said the European Union had an opportunity and a duty to be a force for stability, productivity and respect for human life. He also said Europe must work as closely as possible with Ukraine on security matters, including air defence and maritime security.

In his remarks, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine's experience in modern war made its security expertise essential. He argued that without Ukraine, it would be impossible to guarantee security today, particularly in the areas he highlighted. He also urged collective action to end the war and called for conditions that would make it impossible for Russian President Vladimir Putin to continue it.

The Ukrainian president also linked his appeal to Ukraine's long-running bid to join the EU. He said it was important to keep promises, and thanked those who support efforts to advance that process. He also called for new European Union sanctions against Russia and against the tools he said were still being used to sustain the war.

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Mr Zelensky further criticised companies in European countries that he said worked for Russia or were controlled by Russian interests and sanctioned oligarchs. He said such firms were still supplying the aggressor with essential materials. His comments placed the Dublin event within the wider debate over how Europe should respond to the war, both through military support and economic pressure.

Ireland's presidency will last for six months and is expected to involve hundreds of EU meetings, along with visits by EU leaders starting next week. The opening ceremony gave Mr Zelensky a platform to press for continued backing from one of the EU's member states as the war continues. What remains unclear is how far Ireland and other EU governments will go on the specific security and sanctions measures he called for, and how quickly Ukraine's accession ambitions can move forward.

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