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Gabija GatavekateBBC Dublin News Correspondent
ReutersUkrainian President Zelensky is expected to meet Irish Prime Minister Michael Martin in Dublin on Tuesday.
This will be the first official visit to Ireland by the President and First Lady of Ukraine.
The Irish government said President Zelenskiy will also make a “courtesy visit” to meet newly-installed Irish President Catherine Connolly.
He is also scheduled to attend the opening of the Ireland-Ukraine Economic Forum with Tánaiste Simon Harris and Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Helen McEntee.
“Visited at critical moments”
ReutersSince the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022, more than 120,000 Ukrainian refugees have gone to Ireland to seek refugee status.
Some have returned and an estimated 80,000 people still live in Ireland.
The Irish government said the visit was an opportunity to cement the “very close and warm relationship” between the two countries.
The statement also said that “Ireland stands firmly with Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s illegal war and recognizes the valuable contribution made by the Ukrainian community seeking asylum here to communities across the country”.
“Ukraine and Europe are at a critical moment”
Speaking about the visit, the prime minister said the Ukrainian people “have inspired the world to bravely defend their country and its sovereignty since the brutal and illegal invasion by Russia.”
“The people of Ukraine continue to endure nightly Russian missile and drone attacks on their cities,” he added.
“Their defense forces continue to defend their homeland with extraordinary tenacity.
“The president’s visit comes at a critical time for Ukraine and Europe, as efforts to bring a just and lasting peace to Ukraine continue.”
Martin said he looked forward to discussing with President Zelensky “the way in which Ireland can support these efforts and how we can ensure that Ukraine comes to the negotiating table with the strongest possible position”.
president of ukraine Met with the Taoiseach in Ireland last Februaryas he traveled to the United States to meet President Donald Trump and made a stopover at Shannon Airport in County Clare.
The two also met in July 2022 when the prime minister visited Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv.
