Micheál Martin has described the Oval Office encounter between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as “quite extraordinary” and “very unsettling”, reports Breaking News.
The Taoiseach said he believes Europe will continue to stand with Ukraine, but added that it also has to keep engaging with the US.
It came as it emerged that Tánaiste Simon Harris had spoken to the Ukrainian foreign minister and ambassador to Ireland to express Ireland’s “full solidarity” following the heated scenes in the White House, reports Breaking News.
Mr Martin met with the Ukrainian president this week when he stopped in Ireland on his way to the US, and is due to meet the US president in March to mark St Patrick’s Day.
He was asked about the exchange between the two leaders during an appearance on RTE’s The Late Late Show, reports Breaking News.
The Taoiseach said: “It was quite extraordinary, very, very unsettling.”
Mr Martin paid tribute to the courage of Mr Zelensky in his opposition to the Russian invasion.
He added: “I have the utmost admiration for him and for the resilience of the Ukrainian people in fighting back the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine. There was a lot of diplomacy on this week, beginning with Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the White House, followed by Keir Starmer, followed by President Zelensky. The whole idea around it was the idea of peace we all want, but there is a big issue for Europe. Europe does not trust President Putin, and with good reason given what happened in the Crimean invasion and so on,” reports Breaking News.
Asked if Europe still trusted Mr Trump, the Irish premier said: “I think Europe will continue to engage. I think Europe is worried. I think Europe has already to a certain extent made up its mind that it has to do an awful lot more itself in terms of defence, in terms of independence,” reports Breaking News.
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