FOREIGN Affairs Minister Helen McEntee will formally open a new Irish Embassy in Kyiv today.
The Minister is on a two-day trip to Ukraine, during which she will also hold the second Ireland-Ukraine Strategic Dialogue with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Ivanovych Sybiha and visit a project funded by Irish Aid at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
Yesterday Ms McEntee visited Bucha in northwest Kyiv, a region which has borne some of the worst atrocities of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking this morning, Minister McEntee reaffirmed Ireland’s “unwavering support for the Ukrainian people and government in the face of Russia’s ongoing aggression”.
“Yesterday in Bucha, I witnessed the legacy of atrocities carried out against innocent civilians, lives brutally taken, families torn apart and communities devastated,” she added.
“It was a stark and harrowing reminder of the brutal actions of Russia and the real cost of this war.”
Ms McEntee added: “Ireland stands in solidarity with the victims, and we are clear: Russia must be held fully accountable.
“We were honoured to welcome President Zelenskyy to Ireland in December, and I reaffirm today that Ireland stands firmly with Ukraine.
“We support a just, comprehensive and lasting peace, one that fully respects Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and ensures such devastation can never happen again.”
The Minister further confirmed that when Ireland takes on the EU Presidency in June, Ukraine “will be a central priority”.
“We will continue to back strong and targeted sanctions in response to Russia’s illegal war, support Ukraine’s path to EU membership, and ensure it has sustained financial support, including to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing illegal aggression,” she confirmed.
The Minister described today’s meeting with Minister Sybiha as “an important opportunity to deepen cooperation between Ireland and Ukraine”.
“We will discuss ongoing support and look ahead to shared priorities as we strengthen our partnership,” she added.
“The relationship between our two countries is already strong, and I am confident it will continue to grow across economic, cultural and people-to-people ties — for the benefit of both nations in the years ahead.”
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