Taoiseach Micheál Martin has stated that the Government will “make no apologies” for extending an invitation to the Ukrainian president to visit Ireland.
He made the remarks after the Russian Ambassador to Ireland issued a statement containing a sharp criticism of Irish political leaders following Volodymyr Zelensky’s trip earlier this week, reports RTE.
Speaking at the British-Irish Council gathering in Wales, Mr Martin informed journalists that Mr Filatov has a “track record” of “attacking the Irish Government”.
He noted that Ireland had been consistent in saying that the assault on Ukraine represented a “fundamental, brutal violation of the United Nations Charter. No power can behave in such a manner”, reports RTE.
Mr Martin added that he would urge the ambassador to “please bring back a message to the Russian government to please engage [in peace efforts] and stop this war”.
The Taoiseach also acknowledged the efforts of US President Donald Trump and the Coalition of the Willing in attempts to secure an end to the conflict, reports RTE.
In his remarks, Russian Ambassador Yuriy Filatov accused Irish politicians of “whitewashing” and claimed they “are unable or, most likely, unwilling to come out of their illusionary world that has nothing to do with the realities of the Ukrainian conflict, instigated and fuelled by the West”, reports RTE.
“Only this can explain persistent attempts by Taoiseach Micheál Martin to portray the Zelensky’s rule in Ukraine as some sort of a bulwark of democracy at the eastern flank of Europe, resisting the ‘imperial aggression’ by Russia,” Mr Filatov said,
He continued: “It takes a lot of imagination to whitewash in this way the regime which is openly ultra-nationalist, neo-Nazi and dictatorial, which eliminated every trace of democracy in Ukraine by banning opposition parties, free press, human rights, religious freedoms and fair business environment, as evidenced by the developing corruption scandal involving Zelensky’s right-hand man Andrey Yermak and others in the top echelon of the Ukrainian government”,
During Mr Zelensky’s visit, the Taoiseach reaffirmed that Ireland would stand behind Ukraine “for as long as it takes”, reports RTE.
“For as long as Ukraine needs our help and support, Ireland will be there for you,” he said. “Your struggle is our struggle. Success be our success. We are with you for as long as it takes”,
He continued by saying that: “The brutal and illegal war that Russia has waged on Ukraine and that it continues to prosecute, has brought devastation and destruction to people, communities and infrastructure in Ukraine”, reports RTE.
“[Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin has shown a complete indifference to the value of human life and to international law and norms,” Mr Martin added, reports RTE.
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