On Wednesday, April 1, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed his Irish counterpart, Helen McEntee, in Kyiv, marking her first visit to Ukraine.
The ministers held the second session of the Strategic Dialogue between Ukraine and Ireland. This new format of cooperation was launched as part of the Partnership Roadmap to 2030, signed in December last year by the leaders of the two countries during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s historic visit to Ireland.
“We agreed to systematically implement the Roadmap and expand cooperation. We discussed holding the second annual Ukraine-Ireland Economic Forum this year. We also welcome Ireland’s active engagement, including Irish companies, in Ukraine’s reconstruction,” the Foreign Minister noted.
During the talks, Andrii Sybiha briefed his colleague on Ukraine’s peace efforts, the battlefield situation, and efforts to increase pressure on the aggressor. In particular, the ministers discussed the urgent need for adoption of the EU’s 20th sanctions package. Special attention was given to the accountability track, where Ireland has shown leadership.
“For Ukraine, Ireland’s principled stance against Russian aggression is important. We appreciate the support for our sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as Ireland’s active role in consolidating international efforts to deter the Russian threat,” said the Foreign Minister.
Andrii Sybiha highlighted Ireland’s role in humanitarian initiatives, including the restoration of a hospital in Berdychiv together with Estonia. He also noted that last year Dublin provided €200 million in non-lethal military aid.
“I want to highlight Ireland’s contribution this year of €25 million to the Ukrainian Energy Support Fund. We survived the harshest winter in history — and your support played a part. I also thank Ireland for today’s important announcement of an additional €40.3 million in humanitarian aid for this year,” he added, expressing gratitude to Ireland for hosting 120,000 Ukrainians displaced by the war.
The Foreign Minister also thanked Ireland for its consistent support for Ukraine’s EU accession. He expressed hope that Ireland’s EU Council Presidency, beginning July 1, will be a time of significant decisions on this path, particularly in raising the cost of war for the aggressor and advancing Ukraine’s EU membership.
“I am confident that our partnership will continue to deepen to achieve a just and sustainable peace, strengthen security in Europe, and advance a shared European future,” the minister said.
Minister Sybiha also congratulated his counterpart on the official opening today of Ireland’s new embassy premises in Kyiv.
An important part of the visit was the presentation of archival diplomatic documents from the Soviet era and the early years of Ukraine’s independence, kindly provided by the State Archival Service of Ukraine, to the Irish delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Presenting the exhibition, Andrii Sybiha emphasized that these documents demonstrate long-standing diplomatic and interpersonal ties between Ukraine and Ireland. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to the head of the State Archival Service, Anatolii Khromov, and the director of the Central State Archive of Supreme Bodies of Power and Administration, Larysa Levchenko, for locating and preparing the materials for the presentation.
