Ireland is with you..

TAOISEACH MEETS ZELENSKY ON VISIT TO UKRAINE CAPITAL | Trip marks 'new page' in relations says president of war-torn country

- FERGHAL BLANEY

MICHEAL Martin visited Kyiv yesterday and told Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky: Ireland is with you.

As his troops continue to battle Vladimir Putin’s forces, the Taoiseach added: “Russia’s brutal war against this beautiful country is a gross violation of international law.

“It is an affront to everything Ireland stands for. It cannot and it will not be allowed to stand.”

And Mr Martin warned Russian president Vladimir Putin that Ireland and the world “would not stand” for the appalling atrocities Ukraine’s people are enduring. In response, President Zelensky said Mr Martin’s visit marked “a new page” in relations between the two countries and that Ukraine “would always remember” Ireland’s friendship during the war.

Mr Martin’s visit yesterday was the first ever trip by a Taoiseach to the Eastern European country.