Zelensky to attend EU presidency ceremony in Dublin

By Bairbre Holmes, Press Association

Volodymyr Zelensky is set to attend the opening ceremony of Ireland’s EU presidency in Dublin on Wednesday.

The Ukrainian President is scheduled to land at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel ahead of the formal ceremony and meetings with Irish political leaders.

During the event, which will take place at Dublin Castle, the Ukrainian flag will be raised alongside EU flags.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, will also attend, following his meeting with the Taoiseach, where they are scheduled to discuss priorities for Ireland’s six months in office.

In a statement, Micheál Martin said the two men want to “improve Europe’s competitiveness” and “defend the key values” that underpin the union.

They are also expected to discuss the negotiations surrounding the EU’s next multi-year budget, which Ireland hopes to have agreed during this presidency.

Meetings with Mr Zelenskyy will follow the formal ceremony.

Martin said supporting Ukraine is an “important priority” for the term of the Presidency and described the country as “part of our European family”.

A short meeting between the Tánaiste Simon Harris and Zelensky is also planned, where it is anticipated the Minister for Finance will tell Zelensky that his and the Ukrainian people’s courage and resilience will be a guiding inspiration to Ireland during its term.

It is exactly seven months since the Ukrainian President’s state visit to Ireland, when he met with 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 Zelensky’s plane landed at Dublin Airport.

Defence Minister Helen McEntee later said counter-drone technology would be in place to prevent incidents 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.