Europe ministers are meeting in Brussels to prepare for an emergency summit on the future of Ukraine next week.
Arriving at the meeting this morning, Ireland’s Europe Minister, Thomas Byrne TD, said that “we continue to show absolute and complete solidarity with Ukraine in word, but also in deed. And that’s what the General Affairs Council today will prepare.”
Yesterday marked the third anniversary since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
After Emmanual Macron met US President Donald Trump overnight, the French President told US media that a “truce” for Ukraine could come within “weeks”.
EU 27 leaders, including Taoiseach Micheál Martin will come to Brussels on Thursday next week to discuss how to support Ukraine in future.
European Commission President von der Leyen said she will use that opportunity to demonstrate how the EU can ramp up military support for Ukraine.
“I will present a comprehensive plan on how to scale up our European arms production and defence capabilities. And Ukraine will also benefit.”
Due to its neutral stance, Ireland doesn’t supply weapons, but it does support Ukraine with so-called “non lethal” support.
Defence minister and Tánaiste, Simon Harris, yesterday said Ireland would continue to stand by Ukraine.
“Together with our EU partners, we will continue to build global support for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace on Ukraine’s terms, based on respect for the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and with justice and accountability at its heart.”
European leaders are worried that the US might be losing interest in the continent.
But Thomas Byrne was upbeat about EU-US relations this morning.
“America is a prestige democracy and I’m absolutely confident that it would remain so. And they have shown over the last number of years extraordinary support to Ukraine.
We welcome President Macron’s meeting with the president yesterday. I certainly hope that the Irish Prime Minister will meet the president on Saint Patrick’s Day, as is customary, and we will be putting forward our views.”
“We will talk to our American colleagues in a constructive spirit”, Thomas Byrne added.