Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Ireland for supporting the special accelerated procedure for granting Ukraine membership in the European Union and invited it to participate in the reconstruction of the Kherson region.
"You have been on the side of good from the first days of the Russian invasion. On the side of freedom. On the side of Ukraine. You did not question whether to help us.
You started helping right away. And although you are a neutral country, you did not remain neutral to the grief and suffering that Russia brought to the Ukrainians. I am grateful to all of you for that," he said Wednesday, speaking by video link to Parliament and the people of Ireland.
"Grateful both to the leadership of your state and to every Irishman. Grateful for supporting sanctions against Russia. Grateful for the humanitarian and financial support we have received. Grateful for the special concern for our people who have sought and found safety on Irish soil," the president said, adding, "Our mutual understanding and mutual respect is already at a level where we can say it is only a matter of time before we live together in our common European home. I am grateful to you for supporting the special fast-track procedure of granting Ukraine's membership in the European Union. With your leadership, it will be even faster and more beneficial to both our nations."
Noting that "we should already be thinking now about rebuilding our country, about resuming after the war", Zelensky invited Ireland to take part in rebuilding Ukraine, "for example, in our Kherson region".
