Taoiseach rejects Russian ambassador’s criticism of Zelensky visit

The Taoiseach has told the Russian ambassador to “stop this war”, after the diplomat criticised the official visit of the Ukrainian president to Ireland.

Volodymyr Zelensky gave a historic address earlier this week to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas and also met with Government figures and President Catherine Connolly.

Russian ambassador to Ireland Yuriy Filatov said on Friday that it was “hard to make sense of the visit” beyond it representing “the ever-present desire of the Irish government to show loyalty to the EU anti-Russian policy line on Ukraine”.

In a statement, Mr Filatov said Irish political leaders were living in an “illusionary world that has nothing to do with the realities” of the war in Ukraine.

He criticised Taoiseach Micheal Martin for using the “Slava Ukraini” – or “Glory to Ukraine” – phrase, with the ambassador comparing the greeting to “Heil Hitler”.

Asked about the comments at the British-Irish Council summit in Cardiff, Mr Martin said Mr Filatov had a “track record” of attacking him and the Government “on a consistent basis”.

He said: “We’re very, very clear: The invasion of Ukraine by Russia was a fundamental, brutal violation of the United Nations Charter, and no power can behave in such a manner.

“The destruction of Ukraine, killing of so many people, and the destruction of civilian infrastructure and energy infrastructure on the scale that has happened is reprehensible.

“I would say to the Russian ambassador to please bring back the message to the Russian government to please engage and stop this war.”

The Taoiseach said there was now a “basis to stop this war” as he hailed diplomatic efforts by US president Donald Trump.

“President Trump is working hard to try and bring about a ceasefire. President Trump has a genuine hatred of war,” he said.

“And I think the work of the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with (French) president Emmanuel Macron and others in forming the ‘coalition of the willing’ has been a very effective process to give support to Ukraine, but also to create conditions which would facilitate a sustainable peace settlement.”

Mr Martin said Ireland would always facilitate visits from other nations and other countries.

“We were very happy to facilitate the visit of President Zelensky, who I’ve met on numerous occasions and I’ve been to Kyiv,” he said.

“It was a good visit. The people of Ireland responded very warmly. Our legislature responded very warmly.”

Mr Martin said Ireland would “make no apologies” for inviting Mr Zelensky and said the Government was looking forward to strengthening bilateral relations with Ukraine and facilitating its reconstruction in the event of a peace settlement.