IRELAND will pay for “robotic ground drones” to help save injured Ukrainian soldiers from the frontlines of their war with Russia, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has declared.
And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the Irish people in Shannon Airport today for their continued support.
The leader made the stop in Ireland on his way to the White House for critical talks with US President Donald Trump as Ukraine agrees to hand over control of some of it minerals to the US.
Amid moves by the Republican chief to align himself with Russian despot Vladimir Putin, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with Trump tonight with peace hanging in the balance.
Zelensky told the Taoiseach: “I am happy to see you. I am happy that we have the opportunity to speak and thank you.
“Three years ago this war began. . .your team and your people showed such warm attitude to thousands of Ukrainians who are now in Ireland because of the war.
“Thank you so much for your attitude to them and the attitude of your people.”
Trump and Zelensky have been locked in a war of words recently as the US tries to negotiate a peace deal with Russia without Ukrainian officials at the table.
Despite this clash, the two presidents will meet tomorrow to sign an agreement that will see the US gain the right to mine precious minerals in Ukraine.
Ukraine hopes this deal will lead to a security agreement that will deter further attacks from Russia.
The Taoiseach met with President Zelensky at Shannon Airport where they held talks about Ukraine joining the EU and Ireland’s financial support for the country.
The Taoiseach told President Zelensky: “Ireland stands with you. The Irish people are very, very supportive of the people of Ukraine.”
Mr Martin offered to send Irish soldiers to Ukraine for a peacekeeping mission if a lasting ceasefire can be achieved.
Speaking after the meeting, the Taoiseach said: “I made him aware that Ireland is open to helping in any way we possibly can including in a peacekeeping role but as he said, ‘There’s time for that yet’.
“He was appreciative of that but obviously a lot will be determined by the nature of agreements if they happen, if a ceasefire happens, the nature of it and modality of it and so on like that.
“But he is aware of our position on that which he thinks is important.”
SECURITY GUARANTEE NEEDED
The Taoiseach said that Europe will have to step up to provide a security guarantee for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire deal being reached with Russia.
The Fianna Fail leader said: “President Trump is a president who said peace is his objective. He wants to end these terrible wars and I think that is a very noble objective in itself.
“We have to work through the details now and that is where a lot of discussion is now at the moment within Europe.”
The Taoiseach and President Zelensky also discussed the possibility of Ireland paying for “robotic ground drones” to help pull injured Ukrainian soldiers from the frontline.
NON-LETHAL AID
As part of our neutrality, Ireland is committed to only sending non-lethal military aid to Ukraine.
Ireland has already promised over €200 million in non-lethal aid to Ukraine as part of the European Peace Facility but this has been blocked by a veto from Hungary.
Tanaiste Simon Harris is now putting in place a workaround where Ireland will be able to send €50 million of non-lethal aid directly to Ukraine.
The Taoiseach and President Zelensky discussed what form this could take with the Ukrainian leader suggesting that Ireland could help pay for meals for school children and drones to save his injured soldiers.
The Taoiseach explained: “There is interestingly, and unfortunately at a time of terrible war, significant innovation underway and they were explaining to us how they developed robotic ground drones to evacuate their injured from the frontline.
“And that is technology which we can support financially to enable them to bring back soldiers who are injured.”
ROBOT UNITS
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov recently announced that their military has begun sending robot units into the war that can help save injured soldiers.
Uploading a photo of one of these unmanned ground vehicles, Ministe Umerov said these machines are able to demine territories, evacuate wounded troops, or conduct attacks.
However, any drones that Ireland pays for will likely need to be unarmed due to the commitment to send only non-lethal military aid overseas.
In a press conference after the meeting, the Taoiseach said the Ukrainian President respects Ireland’s position about providing non-lethal military aid.
The Taoiseach also reinforced Ireland’s commitment to push for the EU to speed up Ukraine’s application to join the bloc.
He said: “We made it clear that we would push very strongly for an accelerated timeline in terms of Ukrainian membership of the EU.
“He was very keen on that. It is a priority because in itself it gives certain security guarantees to Ukraine, but economically it opens up very significant opportunities for Ukraine into the future.
‘LIMITED MEMBERSHIP’
However, a former European Union Commission president today said Ukraine should only be offered a “limited” membership to the EU.
Jean-Claude Juncker told Euronews the bloc needs to be “very careful” about adding new members.
Juncker cited concerns over corruption, a weak economy, and a lack of state structure as the reasons to offer Ukraine a second-tier membership.
That would give Ukraine a voice during debates and access to Europe’s single market – but no vote.
Juncker said: “We don’t want to give them the impression they are far away from membership but show they are on the way to membership without having all the rights and all the possibilities of real membership.”
