Zelensky thanks Ireland for 36-million-euro funding package

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he wanted to “express his gratitude to Ireland” meeting Irish premier Simon Harris in Kyiv. “I thank the people of Ireland, I know that after the beginning of the invasion of Russia of our land, you’ve accepted and really have warmly welcomed more than 100,000 citizens of Ukraine.” The deal includes common work on demining Ukraine, which Mr Zelensky said will save Ukrainians and improve the resilience of Europe. “We are grateful to you, Mr Taoiseach, and to the people of Ireland for very specific and clear and principled support and a position countering Russian terror.” Mr Zelensky thanked Ireland for financial support and said: “It is really important we are together protecting lives, especially now we need it facing the winter when Russia goes on striking our energy infrastructure.” Mr Harris, who earlier laid a wreath to honour Ukraine’s war dead at Maidan Square, told reporters: “The people of Ireland stand with the people of Ukraine.” Asked by members of the Ukrainian media about the Irish Government’s decision to decrease financial support for newly arriving Ukrainians in Ireland, Taoiseach Simon Harris said “Ireland will always continue to support people from Ukraine”. Asked if he supported Ukraine’s request to use long-range missiles at Russian targets, Mr Harris said that would be a matter for the countries supplying such weapons as Ireland’s assistance is around non-lethal aid.