Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Dublin where he is due to hold meetings with Irish and EU leaders.
Mr Zelensky is to attend the opening ceremony of Ireland’s presidency at Dublin Castle on Wednesday afternoon.
Ireland will hold the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months, which will see the country host hundreds of EU meetings as well as visits by EU leaders starting from next week.
The Irish government has said its three priorities will be around competitiveness, values and security.
The Ukrainian president landed at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel, where he was greeted by Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris.
A short meeting was due to take place between Mr Zelensky and Mr Harris, where the Tánaiste was expected to tell Mr Zelensky that his and the Ukrainian people’s courage and resilience will be a “guiding inspiration” to Ireland during its term.
Meetings with Mr Zelensky are also due to take place after he attends the formal opening ceremony.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said supporting Ukraine is an “important priority” for the term of the presidency and described the country as “part of our European family”.
“In our meetings today, we will also be discussing how to increase pressure on Russia so that the cost of continuing its illegal war becomes unsustainable,” Mr Martin said ahead of the meeting.
He said it was possible “in theory” that Ukraine could become a member of the EU while Russia’s invasion is ongoing.
“It’s going to take time to progress the application,” he told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
“We’re doing it on a merit-based approach, just as we’re doing other applicants from the western Balkans, and so others are coming forward with ideas around association or a graduated membership.”
He rejected that Ireland’s support for Ukraine had been damaged by the export of alumina from the Limerick-based Aughinish Alumina refinery, amid reports that those exports are 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 Harris said that it was appropriate to welcome Mr Zelensky to Ireland on the first day of the presidency and said he had “every confidence” in security arrangements.
“From a security point of view, a huge level of preparation has been put into hosting a successful presidency over the next six months.
“The real work kicks off today in trying to move forward substantial items which will make a real difference to the lives of Europeans, Europeans here in Ireland and right across the continent.
“Today marks the start of a busy, productive and important six months.”
Mr Zelensky’s visit is taking place alongside that of the president of the European Council, António Costa, and ahead of the visit of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and EU commissioners to Cork on Thursday and Friday.
Mr Martin and Mr Costa were due to discuss priorities for Ireland’s six months in office, including the negotiations surrounding the EU’s next multi-year budget, which Ireland hopes to have agreed during this presidency.
At a joint press conference at Government Buildings in Dublin, Mr Costa and Mr Martin were asked questions about trade, about new customs rules, and about Ukraine.
Mr Costa said the Irish presidency will play “a crucial role” in the enlargement of the EU, and said it was possible to finalise the accession negotiations with Montenegro before the end of the Irish presidency.
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.
When Ireland assumes the presidency of the Council of the European Union, it will do so for the eighth time, having last held the role in 2013.
An Garda Síochana has warned that a policing and security operation is in place at Dublin Castle and will remain in place for the next six months of Ireland’s term.
