| url = https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2022-04-06/3/
| url = https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2022-04-06/3/
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** On 13 July 2024, Zelenskyy held a bilateral meeting with the taoiseach, [[Simon Harris]], during a stopover at [[Shannon Airport]] while returning to Ukraine from the United States. At a press conference after the meeting, Harris said he had invited Zelenskyy to make a formal state visit to Ireland and that the latter was eager to address the [[Dáil Éireann|Dáil]]. Harris also revealed that he will visit Kyiv soon.<ref>{{cite web
** On 13 July 2024, Zelenskyy held a bilateral meeting with the taoiseach, [[Simon Harris]], during a stopover at [[Shannon Airport]] while returning to Ukraine from the United States. At a press conference after the meeting, Harris said he had invited Zelenskyy to make a formal state visit to Ireland and that the latter was eager to address the [[Dáil Éireann|Dáil]]. Harris also revealed that he will visit Kyiv soon.<ref>{{cite web
| title = Zelensky dismisses Biden gaffe as he thanks Ireland for support
| title = Zelensky dismisses Biden gaffe as he thanks Ireland for support
| first = Conor
| first = Conor
Bilateral relations
Ireland–Ukraine relations are foreign relations between the Republic of Ireland and Ukraine.
Both countries are full members of the Council of Europe and of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Ireland recognized Ukraine on 31 December 1991.[1] Diplomatic relations were established shortly after on 1 April 1992.[2]
Ukraine opened its embassy in Ireland in August 2003.[3] Ireland has an embassy in Kyiv since June 2021.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Irish embassy closed for six months, with staff working remotely; it reopened in August 2022.[4] In November 2024, staff were told to work from home due to escalating tensions.[5]
Between February 2022 and September 2024, Ireland took in almost 110,000 thousand Ukraine refugees through the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection scheme.[6][7]
High-level visits from Ireland to Ukraine
[edit]
- On 12–14 April 2022, the Irish minister for foreign affairs and minister for defence Simon Coveney and Ireland’s ambassador to Ukraine Thérèse Healy visited Ukraine where Coveney met his counterparts, Ukraine foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba and defence minister Oleksii Reznikov, in Kyiv and visited the site of the Bucha massacre the following day. Coveney travelled via Poland and was the first foreign minister on the UN Security Council to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in February. He was also accompanied by a political adviser and a protection team.[8]
- On 6 July 2022, the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, travelled to Kyiv to meet the president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as part of a visit to discuss how Ireland and the EU could support Ukraine.[9]
- On 19 July 2023, the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, paid a surprise visit to embattled Ukraine where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) Ruslan Stefanchuk, and members of the Irish community.[10]
- On 4 September 2024, the taoiseach, Simon Harris, arrived overnight by train at Nemishaieve station in Kyiv. He and Zelenskyy signed a joint memorandum on mutual co-operation; Harris once again invited the president to visit Ireland; Zelenskyy thanked Ireland for welcoming over 100,000 refugees from his country; Harris toured the war-damaged Kyiv Oblast region and said he hoped Ukraine would in due course become a member of the European Union.[11]
High-level visits from Ukraine to Ireland
[edit]
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- On 6 April 2022, Zelenskyy addressed both houses of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) in a virtual visit to Ireland by video link.[12][13]
- On 13 July 2024, Zelenskyy held a bilateral meeting with the taoiseach, Simon Harris, during a stopover at Shannon Airport while returning to Ukraine from the United States. At a press conference after the meeting, Harris said he had invited Zelenskyy to make a formal state visit to Ireland and that the latter was eager to address the Dáil in person. Harris also revealed that he will visit Kyiv soon.[14]
- On 27 February 2025, Zelenskyy met the taoiseach, Micheál Martin, at a stopover at Shannon Airport during a flight from Ukraine to the United States. The taoiseach said afterwards that he was open to Ireland helping in any possible future peacekeeping role in Ukraine.[15]
- On 1–2 December 2025, Zelenskyy and his wife Olena Zelenska made their first official state visit to Ireland.[16]
As of 2024, the Ukrainian ambassador to Ireland was Gerasko Larysa,[17] having been appointed to the role in April 2021.[18]
- ^ Oireachtas, Houses of the (1992-02-13). “Written Answers. – Independent States of Formal Soviet Union. – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Thursday, 13 Feb 1992 – Houses of the Oireachtas”. www.oireachtas.ie. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ Oireachtas, Houses of the (1992-04-08). “Written Answers. – Embassies in Eastern Europe. – Dáil Éireann (26th Dáil) – Wednesday, 8 Apr 1992 – Houses of the Oireachtas”. www.oireachtas.ie. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ Kitsoft. “Ірландія – Political issues of Ukraine and Ireland”. ireland.mfa.gov.ua. Retrieved 2020-11-22.
- ^ Breaking News Ireland website, Irish embassy in Ukraine reopens following closure due to Russian invasion, article dated 22 August, 2022
- ^ Breaking News Ireland website, Irish Embassy staff in Kyiv ‘working from home’ as tensions escalate following missile strikes, article by James Cox dated 20 November, 2024
- ^ Central Statistics Office website, Arrivals from Ukraine in Ireland Series 14, dated 23 October, 2024
- ^ Statista website, Estimated number of refugees from Ukraine recorded in Europe and Asia since February 2022 as of July 2024, by selected country, retrieved 4 December, 2024
- ^ Multiple sources:
- ^ Multiple sources:
- ^ “Taoiseach pledges support to Ukraine during surprise Kyiv visit”. RTÉ News. 19 July 2023.
- ^ Multiple sources:
- ^ “Zelensky urges Ireland to show ‘more leadership’ on war”. RTÉ News. 6 April 2022.
- ^ “Dáil Éireann debate – Wednesday, 6 Apr 2022”. Houses of the Oireachtas. 2022-04-06.
- ^ Kane, Conor (2024-07-13). “Zelensky dismisses Biden gaffe as he thanks Ireland for support”. RTÉ News.
- ^ Halloran, Cathy (2025-02-27). “Zelensky ‘very thankful’ for sustained support of Ireland”. RTÉ News.
- ^ Lehane, Micheál (2025-12-02). “Zelensky to address Oireachtas as part of official visit”. RTÉ News.
- ^ “Ukrainian ambassador says she fully understands Ireland is facing accommodation challenges”. Irish Times. 14 March 2024. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ Президент України Володимир Зеленський. Офіційне інтернет-представництво. “УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №178/2021. Про призначення Л.Герасько Надзвичайним і Повноважним Послом України в Ірландії”. president.gov.ua (in Ukrainian).
