The Taoiseach has said it was “very important” to travel to Ukraine early in Ireland’s EU presidency as a demonstration of solidarity.
Micheál Martin was speaking to reporters in the country’s capital, Kyiv, on Thursday, reports Breaking News.
Asked if there was a danger the EU’s focus would drift because of the war in the Middle East, he said “we have too many wars in the world,” adding that the conflict has had “a very, very negative impact” there and on the wider world.
The Taoiseach said it was “very, very important to come out here early” during Ireland’s six-month presidency to make clear to Ukraine “they are a priority in terms of the Irish presidency,” reports Breaking News.
The start of Ireland’s term was marked with a ceremony at Dublin Castle on 1 July which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended.
“It’s a long war,” Martin acknowledged, and Putin “obviously is banking on people getting weary and war-weary,” reports Breaking News.
He said he “can’t comprehend” how the people of Ukraine deal with the war and that the losses on the front line were “horrendous.”
“How Russian leadership can preside over the loss of so much life and so many soldiers on both sides, I do not understand,” he continued, reports Breaking News.
However, he said there was still a “strong” appetite among EU countries to support Ukraine, demonstrated by the new package of sanctions agreed by the EU.
He also said opening new clusters as part of Ukraine’s EU accession process would “facilitate substantial discussions” and “opportunities for Ukraine to progress its application to join the European Union,” reports Breaking News.
Asked how realistic it would be to progress Ukraine’s accession talks during Ireland’s presidency, Martin said: “Getting them open is the key thing so that negotiations can be in each of them.
“That’s our agenda, and that’s what we aim to do. It’s quite realistic if we get co-operation from others,” reports Breaking News.
He acknowledged “there will always be issues,” but “our job is to try and persuade others to agree to at least open the clusters.”
“It does take time then to continue the negotiations, and it’s another decision then to close them, to say that they’re done and dusted and that they’re agreed,” reports Breaking News.
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