Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised Russian-owned companies in Europe during his address at the ceremony marking the start of Ireland’s EU presidency.
Addressing the crowd at Dublin Castle on Wednesday, the Ukrainian president first thanked Ireland for standing by his country and its people from the “very beginning” of the Russian invasion.
He touched on a number of deals and agreements between Ukraine and the EU and its member states, including his belief that, during Ireland’s presidency, “we can make real progress on the drone deal that Ukraine has proposed to the European Union”.
He also discussed steps that would “make it harder for Russia to continue such war” and called for new European sanctions to tackle Russian shadow fleets and “the tools Putin still relies on to keep this war going”.
He said these included “companies in European countries whose only purpose is to work for Russia”.
“Unfortunately, there are companies in Europe that are owned or effectively controlled by Russia and its sanctioned oligarchs,” he said.
“They keep supplying the aggressor with essential materials, even now.”
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland earlier in the day, Taoiseach Micheál Martin rejected claims that Ireland’s support for Ukraine had been damaged by the export of alumina from the Limerick-based Aughinish Alumina refinery, amid reports that these exports were being used to supply Russian arms manufacturers.
“I don’t accept that our support has been damaged in that respect,” he said.
“Europe makes two proposals, the European Commission, in respect of sanctions. We’ve been strong supporters of all sanction packages, up to 20 sanctions packages.
“We do not want to, in any shape or form, be supporting the Russian war machine.”
Mr Zelensky also used his speech to directly address the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, with a plea to accelerate Ukraine’s EU accession process.
Negotiations are structured in clusters and chapters and, during his speech, Mr Zelensky quipped: “We can open five more clusters, Antonio. What do you think?”
Mr Costa could be heard replying “maybe” from the crowd.
Mr Zelensky’s visit to Ireland started at Wednesday luchtime when he landed at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, where he was greeted by Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris.
Mr Martin was due to meet him after the formal opening ceremony.
It is exactly seven months since the Ukrainian president’s state visit to Ireland, when he met President Catherine Connolly at Áras an Uachtaráin and delivered a historic address to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas.
Following the trip, gardaí investigated reports of drones over the Irish Sea around the time Mr Zelensky’s plane landed at Dublin Airport.
Defence Minister Helen McEntee later said counter-drone technology would be in place during Ireland’s EU presidency.
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