This week, Pat Leahy, our host, engaged in a chat with Jack Power, Irish Times’ correspondent based in Europe, concerning the journey that Taoiseach Simon Harris embarked on to Ukraine several days ago.
Following a meeting with the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Simon Harris, the Taoiseach, committed to providing €36 million of Ireland’s funding to humanitarian groups working in Ukraine. The funding, which abstains from being militaristic in nature, wouldn’t violate the neutrality of Ireland.
Furthermore, Taoiseach Harris put his signature to an accord with Ukraine that reaffirms Ireland’s enduring support for the Eastern European nation, which is now two and a half years into its contention with Russia.
Harris and Zelenskiy sat down for their discussion in Ukrainian’s capital, Kyiv, one of the multiple cities in the region, constantly under heavy Russian assault. The city is now functioning with a significantly diminished power supply, providing electricity for a mere four hours in a day, owing to Russia’s tactical strikes on power plants and other energy generators. Power could sense a clear feeling of weariness evident in Kyiv, mirrored in the expressions of its citizens and Zelenskiy himself.
Also, highlighted in this week’s segment, Pat and Jack ponder the possible success of Michael McGrath achieving a distinguished role under the leadership of Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission. Would von der Leyen’s zeal for gender equality potentially undermine McGrath’s chances?
This episode has been brought to your courtesy of John Casey, with JJ Vernon overseeing the audio.