PA Media/dpa
Kiev
The war in Ukraine cannot “fade into the background”, Irish premier Simon Harris has said during a visit to Kiev.
His comments come after a mother and her three daughters were identified among seven killed in a Russian strike on Lviv. Harris, who had travelled through Lviv on a train hours earlier, described the killings as a “vicious terrorist attack by Russia”.
He said attacks on civilian infrastructure and homes by Russia was becoming a “very regular and sometimes daily occurrence”. Speaking to reporters, Harris said: “This war, this terrorism, this barbarism is still continuing on the continent on Europe and in a country that wishes to be, and I wish to be, a member of the European Union.” It came after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed “gratitude to Ireland” for continued financial support.
Harris signed a co-operation deal with Zelensky following a bilateral meeting at the Ukrainian leader’s office at Horodetskyi House in the city.
The Irish premier also announced details of a €36 million funding package to organisations working in Ukraine and neighbouring countries.
The visit comes a day after 53 people were killed and 200 injured when two Russian ballistic missiles struck a military training facility and hospital in Poltava, some 320km south-east of Kiev. The attacks came as Ukrainian forces attempted to secure territory in Russia’s Kursk border region after a surprise incursion that began last month - and as the Russian army moves deeper into eastern Ukraine.
Harris’ engagements on Wednesday saw him visit Hostomel and Borodyanka, two areas which had been badly damaged by Russian strikes in the early days of the invasion.
He said: “I want to see first-hand and with my own eyes the impact of war on the continent of Europe.” Harris saw a prefabricated home, which is now occupied by a family that had previously been displaced, and a newly-built nursery - both part of projects which Ireland financially supports.
The Irish government said the€36 million package will provide essential humanitarian assistance, support rehabilitation and eventual reconstruction, and contribute to Ukraine’s longer-term goals, including peace, stability and political aspirations.
Harris also expressed Ireland’s full support for the Ukrainian bid for EU membership while also discussing continued humanitarian assistance.
Following the bilateral meeting, Zelensky told a press conference that he thanked Ireland for its support of work on returning abducted Ukrainian children to the country.
“Ireland’s participation in the reconstruction of Ukraine will be a substantial support for our people and our countries, and our European way of life.”
