The Taoiseach has defended Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky after his comments on Ireland's efforts to assist his country.
The Ukraine President issued an impassioned plea to the European Union on Thursday - but did appear to hit out some members for not doing enough to support his country in their bid for EU membership.
Mr Zelensky then listed off which nations he believed supported Ukraine's bid to join the EU, saying: "Italy - thank you for your support! Spain - we'll find common ground. Belgium - we will find arguments. Austria, together with Ukrainians, it is an opportunity for you. I'm sure of it. Ireland - well, almost."
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The comments caused a bit of a debate online after the plea.
However, Micheál Martin believes that people are "reading too much into it"
The leader of the country is currently in Brussels attending an EU Leader's summit about the invasion.
When asked whether Ireland had been "singled out" by Zelenskyy, the Taoiseach responded: “That wouldn’t have been my read of it. He was actually talking in terms of the European perspective. I wouldn’t have taken the same slant that some may be taking from it.
"I spoke to him last week and he was very strongly in praise of the Irish contribution, both from a humanitarian perspective and also in terms of our clear support for Ukraine’s application to join the European union.. So I’m not going to surmise in terms of whatever particular take you would take from the use of the word ‘almost’ or ‘practically’ – and I wouldn’t overstate that, to be frank.
“I think that’s reading too much into it if I’m honest. Obviously we’re a militarily neutral country, but we explained that we facilitated the EU peace facility which has been of enormous support to the Ukrainian people. So I wouldn’t overstate it, quite frankly,” he concluded.
Mr Zelenskyy is set to address the Oireachtas next month, which follows similar addresses to the House of Commons in the UK and the Senate in Washington DC.
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