Ukrainian President Zelensky to Make Historic Visit to Ireland

Fri Dec 05 2025 10:13:15 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to make his first official visit to Ireland, meeting with Irish leaders and emphasizing the deepening ties between Ukraine and Ireland amid ongoing conflict.

President Zelensky's upcoming visit to Ireland marks a significant moment in Ukrainian-Irish relations. Scheduled to meet with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and newly inaugurated President Catherine Connolly, Zelensky will also participate in the Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum. With over 120,000 Ukrainian refugees residing in Ireland since the start of the Ukraine war, this visit underscores the strong partnership between the two nations at a pivotal time in Europe.

Ukrainian President Zelensky to Make Historic Visit to Ireland

3 hours ago

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to meet Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Micheál Martin in Dublin on Tuesday, making it the first official visit to Ireland by a Ukrainian president. Alongside his meeting with Martin, Zelensky is also scheduled to meet with newly-inaugurated Irish President Catherine Connolly on what has been described as a 'courtesy call.'

During his visit, Zelensky will attend the inauguration of the Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum together with Tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Simon Harris and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Helen McEntee. This visit takes place at a time when more than 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have sought refuge in Ireland since the war began in February 2022, with an estimated 80,000 still residing in the country.

'Visit at a critical time'

The Irish government has highlighted the visit as an opportunity to reinforce the strong and warm relations between Ukraine and Ireland. It underscores Ireland's ongoing support for Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's illegal invasion. Taoiseach Martin commented on the resilience of the Ukrainian people in their defense against continued Russian aggression, emphasizing the importance of this visit for maintaining support for peace efforts.

Martin expressed his eagerness to discuss potential avenues for Ireland's support in facilitating negotiations, underscoring the need for Ukraine to approach future discussions from a position of strength.

In previous meetings, including one at Shannon Airport in February and during Martin's visit to Kyiv in July 2022, the two leaders established a rapport that has contributed to the solidifying of bilateral ties.